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Situ coal combustion heat recovery method
| Details |
Inventors: Reynolds, Merrill J.; Disney, Ralph W.;
Assignee:
Primary Examiner: Novosad; Stephen J.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Head, Johnson & Chafin
A method for recovery of heat generated by the combustion of coal in situ within coal seams in the earth. Three embodiments are described: one, in which the coal seam crops out and into which can be drilled and inserted a pipe, through the coal seam, to a central point, where it is joined with a vertical pipe drilled from the surface. Water is supplied to the pipe at the point of outcrop. Fires are started within the coal seam and supplied with air from the surface by means of drilled boreholes. The heat of combustion converts the water in the pipe to steam which travels up the vertical pipe and is used to drive a turbine generator system. A second embodiment is used where there is an overlying aquifer above the coal seam. Fires are started by means of air supplied through boreholes leading from the surface into the coal seam. The heat of combustion converts the water in the aquifer to steam, which then is circulated out of the aquifer and up to the surface where it drives a turbine generator system. A third embodiment uses the hot combustion gases to heat water to steam in pipes in a vertical borehole. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is a primary object of this invention to provide a rather specialized system for the utilization of the heat of in situ combustion of coal in shallow, thin, veins, seams or formations.
The situations are specialized in that they are not generally applicable, but are applicable and are particularly useful in specialized areas, such as, for example, where the thin, shallow coal beds outcrop.
The beds can be drilled and pipes inserted into the coal bed, in a more or less horizontal direction.
Air holes can be supplied from the surface of the coal bed, on both sides of the horizontal pipes, so that combustion can be carried on along the position of the horizontal pipes.
The horizontal pipes are supplied with water at the outcrop.
The water will be heated and converted to steam, and can be carried to the surface through a vertical pipe drilled from the surface, and adapted to intersect the horizontal pipe or pipes.
A plurality of such horizontal pipes can be directed in different directions, from the outcrop to a central vertical pipe, or the use of several vertical pipes can be used.
Another object of this invention is to provide a means for utilizing the heat resulting from the combustion of coal in situ in normally unminable coal veins, at a shallow depth below the surface.
This is particularly useful where there is a water bearing formation directly above, and in contact with, the coal seam, or where there is a hydrocarbon bearing formation, where the oil is of such high viscosity that it cannot be produced by ordinary means.
Here, by causing an artificial combustion, in situ, in the coal seam, the heat of combustion passes upward into the overlying aquafer and the water is heated and converted to steam, and is produced by one or more vertical pipes drilled into the water sand from the surface.
The natural flow of water in the aquafer can replenish the water lost by steam, or additional vertical boreholes can be provided for the introduction of water under pressure into the aquafer
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