Venturi flash circulator for geothermal apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus and method for improved circulation and solid fraction removal in geothermal energy recovery. Geothermal fluid is directed into an integrated flasher-crystallizer-separator reactor, used in one or more flash stages, for substantially continuous recovery of the energy values of the incoming geothermal fluid while simultaneously allowing for growth of crystals and separation of the liquid fraction of fluid from the solid fraction. The geothermal fluid flows through a vertical Venturi tube, thereby creating a low pressure area near the entrance to the tube. The low pressure area draws in the liquid containing seed crystals from the surrounding bath, thereby presenting the incoming brine with a large population of seed crystals and also promoting vigorous agitation in the reactor without the use of mechanical agitators. In a second aspect of the invention, a small stream of partially flashed fluid is reintroduced to the reactor at a solids disengaging section, sweeping smaller crystals therein back into the agitated brine for use as seed crystals in the reactor. In a third aspect of the invention, a downstream reactor has larger and slower clarification means than upstream reactor for efficient clarification of the liquid fraction before reinjection into a disposal well.