Showing papers on "Brine published in 1976"

Effect of brine-gas mixture on velocity in an unconsolidated sand reservoir. [Laboratory velocity measurements in unconsolidated sand at various brine saturations]

Abstract: Gas in an unconsolidated sand reservoir encased in shale often results in a dramatic increase in amplitude of the seismic reflection from the shale/gas-sand interface. Unfortunately, reflection amplitude appears not to vary linearly with water (brine) saturation, and thus cannot be used to estimate gas quantity. Previously presented theoretical velocity computations for a Tertiary sedimentary section, which demonstrate that compressional-wave velocity in an unconsolidated gas sand varies nonlinearly with brine saturation, qualitatively agree with laboratory velocity measurements on a sand specimen composed of pure quartz grains. However, significant departure of measured and theoretical velocities at high brine saturation indicates that the technique for partially saturating the sand specimen by flowing a gas-brine mixture through the specimen does not provide a sufficiently uniform distribution. The gas preferentially seeks larger pores. In a subsequent experiment on a specimen composed of spherical glass beads of nearly uniform size, the previous, as well as a modified, fluid injection technique was used. For the latter, brine only was injected into the pore space previously filled with a mixture of gas and brine in nearly equal proportions. This resulted in a more uniform distribution of the gas-brine mixture. For approximately equal brine saturations, this modified technique more » resulted in a measured compressional-wave velocity approximately one-half of the velocity measured for the previously used fluid injection technique. This result implies that if the gas-brine mixture is uniformly distributed in a reservoir, the fluid compressibility is the weighted-by-volume average of the constituent compressibilities. « less

Process for the production of high purity lithium hydroxide

Abstract: A process is described in which a brine from natural or other sources, containing lithium and other alkali and alkaline earth metals primarily as the halides, is preliminarily concentrated to a lithium content of about 2 to 7% to separate most of the alkali and alkaline earth metals other than lithium by precipitation, the pH of such a concentrated brine is then increased to about 10.5 to about 11.5, preferaly utilizing a product of the process, lithium hydroxide to precipitate substantially all of any remaining magnesium contaminants, and adding lithium carbonate to remove the calcium contaminants to provide a purified brine which is electrolyzed as the anolyte in a cell having a cation selective permeable membrane separating the anolyte from the catholyte, the latter being of water or aqueous lithium hydroxide, whereby the lithium ions migrate through the membrane to form substantially pure aqueous lithium hydroxide in the catholyte, a product from which highly pure lithium crystalline compounds such as lithium hydroxide monohydrate or lithium carbonate may be separated.

High temperature geothermal energy system

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling a well providing access to an underground source of high temperature geothermal brine against flashing as the hot brine is delivered upwardly through the well to surface power apparatus for use of heat from the brine in the generation of electrical power, thereby eliminating plugging of the well by precipitated mineral deposits as well as other problems which have heretofore caused most geothermal resources of this character to be beset with operational problems. A pump down in the well pressurizes the hot output liquid that is delivered to the surface generating equipment against flashing, the pump having a novel long tailpipe suspended therefrom which extends deep into the well. Liquid that is substantially cooler than the high temperature brine, and which may be output liquid from the power apparatus or may be provided from another cooler geothermal source, is injected into the well from the surface to form a continuously downflowing column about the outside of the pump and tailpipe assembly, and the tailpipe is sufficiently long so that the weight of the column of injected liquid applies sufficient pressure against the high temperature brine proximate the lower end of the tailpipe to prevent flashing of the brine. The cooler injection liquid is mixed with the high temperature brine proximate the tailpipe to produce hot output liquid of intermediate temperature, enabling the pump to operate at a low enough temperature, and under a low enough pressure head, to come within the capability of present pump technology and to minimize the pumping power and length of the pumping string required. The invention also includes novel concrete ditch reinjection conduit means for precipitating out minerals from highly concentrated brine that may be used for generating power, while delivering the brine to a reinjection well for return to the underground geothermal system, thereby preventing such mineral precipitation from occurring in a reinjection pipeline or in the reinjection well and eliminating pipeline and/or reinjection well clogging.

Gravity head geothermal energy conversion system

Abstract: A geothermal energy recovery system of improved life duration makes use of thermal energy stored in hot, solute-bearing well water as it is pumped upward to the earth's surface through an extended heat exchange element for continuously heating a downward flowing organic working fluid to a supercritical state. Some of the energy of the latter fluid is used within the well for operating a turbine-driven pump for pumping the hot well water at high pressure and always in liquid state to the earth's surface, where it is reinjected into the earth in a second well. After driving the deep-well turbine-driven pump, the organic fluid still in supercritical state arises toward the earth's surface in a thermally insulated conduit; at the earth's surface, vapor turbine electrical power generation equipment is driven by the ascending organic fluid, after which it is returned into the well for re-heating in the extended heat exchanger. The invention provides a long life, closed-loop fluid lubricant pumping and cooling system for the bearings of the turbine and brine pump system, normally isolated from the working fluid loop and the hot brine pumping and heat exchange loop. Should the pressure level within the lubricant loop fall below a predetermined level, auxiliary means are provided for coupling working fluid into the lubrication loop to maintain the pressure within the loop above that of the hot brine, thus excluding intrusion of the corrosive brine.

Geothermal energy processing system with improved heat rejection

Abstract: The improved geothermal energy extraction system abstracts thermal energy stored in hot solute-bearing well water to generate a super-heated fluid from an injected flow of a working fluid; the super-heated fluid is then used to operate a turbine-driven pump at the well bottom for pumping the hot geothermal brine in liquid state toward the earth's surface. After energy for the generation of electrical power is extracted from the brine, a consequently cooled portion of the brine is then used at the earth's surface in a combination unitary cooling tower and working organic fluid condensing system. The invention combines the cooling tower and condenser functions in an integrated unit, the outer surfaces of the condenser tubes being exposed to a cascading flow of cooling brine while the brine is itself being cooled. The condenser tubes are arranged geometrically so that a cleaning device may continuously or upon command travel along the condenser tubes, cleaning their outer surfaces of scale accumulations deposited by the depressurized brine.

Anode system for the cathodic protection of off shore structures

Abstract: A cathodic protection system for metallic structures disposed in contact with marine brine includes a plurality of sacrificial marine anodes mechanically linked in a chain suspended above the brine with a portion of the chain immersed in the brine. The chain of anodes is electrically coupled to the structure, and means are provided for selectively releasing and retrieving the chain from storage to correspondingly increase or decrease the length of chain immersed in the brine.

Geothermal brine production

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the production of geothermal brines that avoids depressuring the brine below its flash point in the well bore and thereby avoids the scaling and plugging unavoidably experienced whenever high salt content brines are depressured, releasing carbon dioxide and upsetting their solubility equilibrium and precipitating calcium carbonate. The invention avoids the flashing of the geothermal brine by injecting a lift fluid immiscible with and of substantially lesser density than the brine into the production tubing to form a column of a mixture of brine and lift fluid which has a sufficiently lesser density than the column of brine that the hydrostatic head of the column of brine raises the mixture to the surface from where it is withdrawn without flashing, separating the lift fluid and processing the brine for heat recovery. Where the brine is extremely hot, the pressure is maintained at higher levels to avoid flashing by an additional column of brine below the production level. This is provided by establishing a column of the geothermal brine a substantial depth below its production interval, installing a production tubing for a substantial depth in the column of brine and injecting a lift fluid which yields a higher pressure at the top of the well.

Method of removing dissolved non-condensibles from geothermal brines

Abstract: Heat energy is more efficiently recovered from geothermal brines by preflashing the brine to remove dissolved, non-condensible gases before flashing the brine to produce motive steam. Power requirements for removal of non-condensibles from turbine exhausts (in order to maintain adequately low exhaust pressures) are obviated. The heat content of the pre-flashed vapors may be largely utilized for superheating and reheating the motive steam.

Corrosion inhibitor used in brines containing oxygen

Abstract: A corrosion inhibiting composition for aqueous brine water containing dissolved oxygen therein is prepared by the reaction of a carboxylic acid containing from 1 to 48 carbon atoms with a polyamine having the structure H2N(-R-NH)xH where R is an alkylene group containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and x is a small whole number greater than 1.

Electrolysis method and apparatus

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the electrolysis of ionizable chemical compounds is disclosed including specifically a process for the production of chlorine and caustic soda containing low concentrations of sodium chloride by the electrolysis of brine which comprises electrolyzing brine solutions in a two compartment cell equipped with a cathode and an anode separated by permselective barrier formed by sandwiching together two or more membranes consisting essentially of a hydrolyzed copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and a sulfonated perfluorovinyl ether having the formula FSO.sub.2 CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2 OCF(CF.sub.3)CF.sub.2 OCF═CF.sub.2 said copolymer having an equivalent weight of from about 900 to about 1600. By the use of a multilayer membrane sandwich as the barrier the caustic current efficiency of the process is increased over that obtained when a single layer membrane is used as the barrier separating the cathode and anode.

Brine treatment for trace metal removal

Abstract: Process for the removal of trace metals from alkali halide brines. The addition of controlled amounts of magnesium ions to brine and subsequent precipitation of magnesium hydroxide removes metal contaminants, and provides a brine suitable for use in the electrolytic production of chlorine and alkali metal hydroxide.

Manufacture of magnesium carbonate and calcium sulphate from brine mud

Abstract: A process for treating "brine mud" as produced in brine purification processes and for the coproduction of a calcium sulphate and magnesium carbonate which comprises (i) carbonating a slurry of "brine mud" in sodium chloride brine with carbon dioxide to produce a slurry of solids comprising calcium carbonate and a liquor comprising magnesium bicarbonate and sodium chloride. (ii) separating the slurry produced by the carbonation stage (i) into moist solid calcium carbonate and a liquor comprising magnesium bicarbonate and sodium chloride. (iii) heating the liquor from (ii) to produce a slurry of solids comprising magnesium carbonate, a liquor comprising sodium chloride, and gaseous carbon dioxide. (iv) separating the slurry from (iii) into moist hydrated magnesium carbonate and a liquor comprising sodium chloride and (v) drying the moist hydrated magnesium carbonate. (vi) slurrying the calcium carbonate from stage (ii) with a water and interacting said slurry with sulphuric acid to produce a slurry comprising calcium sulphate in the solid phase and gaseous carbon dioxide. (vii) separating moist calcium sulphate from the slurry produced in stage (vi), and (viii) drying the moist calcium sulphate from stage (vii) to give a dry calcium sulphate.

Method of electrolyzing brine

Abstract: A practical method of electrolyzing sodium chloride brine on a commercial scale, obtaining in good yield a caustic product exceptionally low in salt content, is provided. The process necessarily involves working with a brine of lower calcium-ion content than is ordinarily used, using dimensionally stable anodes, using, preferably but not necessarily, a heat-treated ion-exchange membrane as a separator within the cell, and periodically taking action to reduce the cell voltage, by reducing the current or interrupting it, alone or with a concomitant flushing of the catholyte portion of the cell.

Heat pump assembly

Abstract: An assembly for dehumidifying air, such as in swimming pool enclosures, comprises a heat pump system including a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser and a thermostatic expansion valve. A brine liquid system forms a closed loop through which brine liquid is circulated, and the brine is maintained at a temperature below the dew point of the air by, for instance, circulating the brine through a pipe system in the earth's crust. A cooling surface is in heat-conducting communication with the evaporator and with the brine liquid. The air to be dehumidified is passed over the cooling surface to be dehumidified, and over the condenser for selective heating. The compressor can be run selectively when heating is desired, or when needed to keep down the temperature of the brine liquid. A heat exchanger connectable in series with the condenser can function to heat the water of the pool.

Mobile cold chamber or refrigeration system - has eutectic fluid coolant with connector hoses from coolant store to refrigeration machine

Abstract: A mobile cold chamber or refrigerator for use with food stuffs, deep frozen materials, etc., having a heat insulating housing with apertures and an internally mounted cooling medium device. The coolant medium in the form of an eutectic fluid (12) which is contained in a brine vessel (17) in the interior of the cold chamber (20). Hoses (11) are provided in the brine vessel (17) with ends that pass through the insulative material (16) of the chamber (20) and are attached to a refrigeration machine (1-10) near or below the cold chamber (20).

Control of Particle Size in Industrial NaCl-Crystallization

Abstract: Because the solubility of NaCl increases only slightly with temperature, pure salt is produced industrially “by evaporative crystallisation, generally in multiple-effect plants. One of the installations at the Akzo Company’s salt plant is shown in Fig.1. The plant has the following characteristics: (a) parallel brine feed, (b) salt discharged in series and (c) forced circulation.

Recovering chloride flux salts for aluminum

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering flux salt and recycling or reusing the same in an aluminum refining method by introducing salt brine into a cylindrical evaporator with hot evaporator gas, rotating the evaporator to expose the brine to the hot gas and removing the slurry from the evaporator.

Process for brine membrane cell operation with external caustic and nacl concentration control

Abstract: Optimum current efficiencies are attained and maintained in a membrane chlor-alkali electrolytic cell by the constant, precise control of both the brine and caustic concentrations at each membrane phase boundary. Such control requires recycling through external holding tanks wherein the concentrations are adjusted to 560 grams per liter caustic and 190 grams per liter brine. Turbulent flow of such concentrations in the cells helps maintain the optimum concentration and also decreases the diffusion layer.

Recovery of strontium from brine that contains strontium and calcium

Abstract: Strontium values are recovered from a brine that contains strontium and calcium salts by admixing, with the brine, strontium sulfate seed and a water soluble sulfate and recovering the strontium sulfate that is thereby produced. The soluble sulfate should be more soluble in the brine than is SrSO 4 .

Method for recovering non-ferrous metals from hydro-thermal slime

Abstract: After separating brine from the slime and drying the same with solids therein, dried solids are subjected to roasting in an oxydizing temperature of 350° to 400° C, and then leaching the roasted material with predetermined acid and withdrawing sulfur oxides from waste gases generated during the roasting step.

Scaling characteristics in the Geothermal Loop Experimental Facility at Niland, California

Abstract: Geothermal Loop Experimental Facility (GLEF), located at Niland in the Imperial Valley, California, began operation in May 1976. The GLEF incorporates a sequential four-stage flash process to successively lower temperatures and pressures with a binary fluid energy-conversion cycle. Approximately 300 hr of intermittent operation were logged before shutdown of the facility for inspection and maintenance. Samples of the brine, suspended solids, and scale deposits were analyzed for bulk composition and mineralogy, but correlation with temperature and pressure is vague. In general, a galena-rich scale is observed in valves and piping ahead of the first-stage separator, becoming much less abundant beyond that point. The bulk of the scale consists of an increasing proportion of an iron-rich amorphous silica with process progression. Trace crystalline phases, such as akaganeite, kutnahorite, and sphalerite and/or wurtzite, have been detected or are strongly suspected in the scales. Halite and sylvite are found primarily as a result of numerous facility shutdowns and subsequent cooling of the retained brine in the equipment. Barite is frequently present when irrigation water (used for priming the wells) containing SO/sub 4//sup =/ is mixed with the brine. Calcite and/or aragonite is also found whenever separated steam condensate in contact with CO/sub 2/ more » is recombined with the brine. Corrosion products, magnetite and hematite, form an integral part of the scale adjacent to steel walls. The scales are layered with bands of widely differing material. The color, texture, hardness, and thickness of the deposits also vary considerably within locations in the GLEF. A new method of in-process scale buildup surveillance based on radiography was successfully verified. « less

Corrosivity of geothermal brines. Progress report for period ending June 1976

Abstract: Studies carried out during FY 1976 on the corrosivity of ferrous materials in synthetic geothermal brines are described. Electrochemical measurements on the spontaneous corrosion potentials and corrosion rates, and on the kinetics of the anodic and cathodic corrosion reactions of iron and carbon steel were made in 4 M NaCl solution over the pH range from 1 to 11 at temperatures up to 100/sup 0/C in a conventional Pyrex electrochemical cell. A refreshed, stirred titanium autoclave system was designed, constructed, and tested, and will be used for making electrochemical measurements in synthetic brines up to at least 200/sup 0/C. The effect of pH on hydrolysis, precipitation, and electrochemical reactivity of ferrous and ferric ions in 4 M NaCl at 25/sup 0/C was studied, and implications for plant operation are discussed. The pitting potential of type 304 stainless steel in synthetic brine was measured as a function of temperature from 25 to 85/sup 0/C. Plans for research on electrochemical aspects of the corrosion of iron and carbon steel in synthetic geothermal brines during FY1977 are presented. 14 fig. (auth)

Distibution of the Bound Form Tritium in the Whole Body of Brine Shrimps, Artemia salina, Reared in the Seawater Containing Tritiated Water

Abstract: When organisms are administered tritiated water (THO), a considerable amount of tritium (T) is retained in their dried tissue and presumably organic compounds in the tissue are universally labeled with T. We reported that brine shrimps, Artemia sauna, reared in the seawater containing THO for a period of 5 days were labeled with T in their lyophilized tissue, up to the level of T content in the tissue corresponded to 30-50% of that in the seawater in terms of specific activity (ƒÊCi of T per hydrogen atom), and also suggested that the radiation effect of THO to brine shrimp is severe on their reproductive capacity9). In this paper, we demonstrate the distribution of T in the whole body of A, sauna, using the technique of autoradiography, and show that the bound form T might be concentrated in maturing eggs in either ovary or ovisac of the shrimps. Dry eggs of A. sauna (imported from Cosmo Enterprise Co. Ltd., Sanders, U.S.A.) were hatched and grown in filtrated natural seawater with and without THO (0.5 mCi/ ml) at 20-25•Ž. Five nauplii (2-3 day old after hatching) were put into cylindrical glass vessels (2.5 cm in diameter) of 20 ml capacity, containing 10 ml of seawater with and without 0.5 mCi/ml THO. Every groups of the shrimps were reared and fed with about 50 mg wet weight of diatoms at every weeks for 2 months. The diatom, Chaetoceros gracilis, were cultured in the Allen-Nelson's medium1), which contains 0.4g of KNO3, 0.05g of Na2HPO4•E12H2O: 0.08g of MgSO4•E7H2O, 0.026 g of CaCl2 and 5 mg each of FeCl3 and sodium ethylenediamine-tetraacetate in ll of filtrated natural seawater without THO. The cells of diatom were harvested at the stationary phase and used for feeding the shrimps. To prepare thin sections of A. sauna for a autoradiography, the shrimps were fixed in the Carnoy's fluid, which consisted of ethanol and acetic acid (3:1). After dehydration with 70, 80, 90% ethanol and absolute ethanol successively, the serial longitudinal sections of the shrimps were made 5 micra at thickness through the ordinary