US 11,703,036 B2
Geothermal heat harvesters
Piotr D. Moncarz, Palo Alto, CA (US); Walter R. Kolbe, Pacifica, CA (US); Louis E. Capuano, Jr., Santa Rosa, CA (US); and Keanen Ryan, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to XGS Energy, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by XGS Energy, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/864,859.
Application 17/864,859 is a continuation of application No. 17/173,311, filed on Feb. 11, 2021, abandoned.
Application 17/173,311 is a continuation of application No. 15/935,241, filed on Mar. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,954,924, issued on Mar. 23, 2021.
Application 15/935,241 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2016/053569, filed on Sep. 23, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/232,271, filed on Sep. 24, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0364550 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. F03G 7/04 (2006.01); F24T 10/20 (2018.01); F24T 10/13 (2018.01); E21B 43/30 (2006.01); E21B 7/04 (2006.01); F24T 10/10 (2018.01); F24T 10/15 (2018.01)
CPC F03G 7/04 (2013.01) [E21B 7/04 (2013.01); E21B 43/305 (2013.01); F24T 10/10 (2018.05); F24T 10/13 (2018.05); F24T 10/15 (2018.05); F24T 10/20 (2018.05); Y02E 10/10 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A geothermal heat harvesting system, comprising:
a geothermal heat harvester comprising an entrance and an exit at a surface, wherein the entrance and the exit are in fluid communication via a path, the path comprising:
a first segment extending between the surface and a target depth, the first segment comprising the entrance, wherein the first segment is substantially free of thermal insulation; and
a second segment in fluid communication with the first segment and extending between the target depth and the surface, the second segment comprising the exit,
wherein the geothermal heat harvester is surrounded by a plurality of spaces extending radially outward from the first segment and the second segment at or near the target depth, wherein the plurality of spaces is filled with conductive material,
wherein the geothermal heat harvester further comprises a flow rate control component configured to control a flow rate of a fluid that flows through at least a portion of the path, wherein the flow rate is controlled over life of the geothermal heat harvester such that a heat extraction rate from the geothermal heat harvester is leveled through life.