Traditional Geothermal Power Generation ("Fracking")
Conventional open loop systems pump water into the ground, where it travels through fissures in the earth, into a water table where it is pumped back to the surface. The fissures are created by fracturing ("fracking") the rock. Reported problems are man-made earthquakes and water table contamination.
With no well defined circulatory system these geothermal power plants are limited in size much the same way an insect is limited in size, by not having a circulatory system. Producing massive amounts of power requires moving massive amounts of water and this is often uneconomical on a large scale using tiny fractures in the rock.
Traditional geothermal power engineers believe that the best place for developing geothermal power is where the hot rocks can be found close to the earth's surface. The rationale is that easier access to the heat source translates into lower construction and extraction costs. However, these rocks have a finite amount of heat stored in them and recharging takes more time. These plants typically operate for 20- 30 years and are then decommissioned.
A Sustainable Closed Loop Energy Mine (CLEM)
The next generation of geothermal power plants will tap deep earth hot rocks 30,000 feet or more below the surface. This vast heat reserve recharges rapidly and supplies heat energy for thousands of years. This sustainable design presents the possibility of much larger geothermal power plants producing greater amounts of power for a much longer time.
The Sustainable Closed Loop Energy Mine is particularly well suited for the Eastern Unites States and will tap unending heat reserves that recharge virtually on demand. One central bore shaft replaces multiple bore holes of traditional methods, reducing the surface footprint of the power plant and the corresponding maintenance costs. The CLEM also uses far less power to pump water, reducing operating costs.
The initial construction and start-up costs for the open loop system are much lower, but its relative short life span results in a finite profit. Conversely, the higher construction cost of the Sustainable CLEM can be spread out over many more years generating far more power per hour, thus creating substantially greater long-term profitability.
The Core Concept
Our approach uses a closed-loop design and construction. During construction and power plant operation, hydrostatic pressure management maintains structural integrity of the central main shaft. The design uses bore holes drilled into dense hot granite to move water through the ground loop with a central shaft that connects all the bore holes. This creates a ground loop with a shape much like a leaf. The veins and capillaries in a leaf are similar to the main shaft and bore holes of the ground loop. These veins and capillaries can be viewed as a well designed circulatory system, with a pumping station as the heart. This geothermal leaf will be capable of drawing heat from far greater reserves.
Recent Developments
For the past ten years Atlantic Geothermal has largely focused on the technical design of a deep heat canal and hydrostatic system to deliver an unlimited amount of water for geothermal power. In March of 2007 the company filed patent applications with the United States Patent Office for the hydrostatic system/canal.
With provisional patents in place, Atlantic Geothermal has begun contacting major construction and tunneling corporations to engage them in the process of building this major power plant. The responses from corporations to these initiatives have been very positive, with several leaders in the energy construction sector indicating their willingness to evaluate and submit bids for the construction and implementation of Atlantic Geothermal's design.
We are now in discussions with a major university to build a working model and prototype and have secured a site within an industrial park in New Hampshire.
