Abstract: A spallation drill head can include a drill head body having a primary face substantially oriented facing in a primary drilling direction along a longitudinal axis of the drill head body. A liquid inlet can be on the drill head body. The liquid inlet can be connected or connectable to a liquid supply line. An internal liquid connection can be oriented within the drill head body and fluidly connected to the liquid inlet. A plurality of liquid jets can be oriented on the primary face of the drill head. The liquid jets can be fed by the liquid inlet through the internal liquid connection. A mass flow controller can be associated with the liquid jets to control delivery of liquid by the liquid jet, and flowrates to at least two of the liquid jets can be independently controllable.
Abstract: A geothermal heat mining system can operate within a single primary borehole in a geothermal reservoir. A primary fluid loop can include a cold working fluid line leading into the primary borehole and a hot working fluid line coming out of the primary borehole. A secondary fluid loop can be located down the primary borehole, where the secondary fluid loop is in thermal contact with the geothermal reservoir and is entirely subsurface. A downhole heat mining device can control a rate of heat transfer from the secondary fluid loop to the primary fluid loop by selectively controlling fluid flow through the primary fluid loop, the secondary fluid loop, or both.
Abstract: A geothermal heat mining system can operate within a single primary borehole in a geothermal reservoir. A primary fluid loop can include a cold working fluid line leading into the primary borehole and a hot working fluid line coming out of the primary borehole. A secondary fluid loop can be located down the primary borehole, where the secondary fluid loop is in thermal contact with the geothermal reservoir. A downhole heat mining device can control a rate of heat transfer from the secondary fluid loop to the primary fluid loop by selectively controlling fluid flow through the primary fluid loop, the secondary fluid loop, or both.