Abstract: A system for producing geothermal energy may include a tiered geothermal loop energy production system. The tiered geothermal loop energy production system includes: a first closed-loop pipe system emplaced within a heat-producing geologic formation, the first closed-loop pipe system having a first energy production; and a second closed-loop pipe system emplaced within a heat producing geologic formation, the second closed-loop pipe system having a second energy production greater than the first energy production; and, optionally a third closed-loop pipe system emplaced within a heat producing geologic formation, the third closed-loop pipe system having a third energy production. An energy conversion system is configured to convert energy from the tiered geothermal loop energy production system to another form of energy.

Abstract: Tiered or stacked geothermal loop energy systems may include closed-loop pipe systems disposed within a heat producing geologic formation. The pipe systems are emplaced in wellbores drilled so as to efficiently and effectively take advantage of localized formation properties.

Abstract: A method or apparatus that uses a fluid in a closed loop well system to extract heat from geothermal resources that are located in or near high-temperature, low-permeable geologic formations to produce power. In some embodiments, the closed loop system may include one or more heat exchange zones, where at least a portion of the one or more heat exchange zones may be disposed within a subterranean region having a temperature of at least 350° C. The subterranean region may be within a plastic zone or within 1000 meters of the plastic zone, the plastic zone having a temperature gradient of at least 80° C. per kilometer depth.

Abstract: A method or apparatus that uses a fluid in a closed loop well system to extract heat from geothermal resources that are located in or near high-temperature, low-permeable geologic formations to produce power. In some embodiments, the closed loop system may include one or more heat exchange zones, where at least a portion of the one or more heat exchange zones may be disposed within a subterranean region having a temperature of at least 350° C. The subterranean region may be within a plastic zone or within 1000 meters of the plastic zone, the plastic zone having a temperature gradient of at least 80° C. per kilometer depth.

Abstract: Methods for thermalsiphoning supercritical CO2 within a geothermal formation includes providing a geothermal energy system that includes an underground hot rock reservoir, a production well, and an injection well that together form a fluid path suitable for circulating supercritical CO2. The supercritical CO2 flows by thermosiphoning. Thermosiphoning is maximized by maintaining a pressure between 1400-4000 psia, an injection temperature in a range from 50-200 C and a production temperature in a range from 150-600 where injection temperature and the production temperature differ by at least 50° C.

Abstract: A process for producing power including injecting a first heat transfer fluid through an injection well to a geothermally-heated formation that contains a second heat transfer fluid. The first heat transfer fluid may then be heated via indirect heat exchange in an interwell run fluidly connected to the injection well and disposed within the geothermally-heated formation. The heated first heat transfer fluid may then be recovered through a production well fluidly connected to the interwell run. Thermal energy contained in the recovered heated first heat transfer fluid may then be converted in a power production unit fluidly connected to the injection well and the production well. The interwell run, in some embodiments, may include multiple heat exchange tubes disposed within a perforated casing or drill pipe.

Abstract: Tiered or stacked geothermal loop energy systems may include closed-loop pipe systems disposed within a heat producing geologic formation. The pipe systems are emplaced in wellbores drilled so as to efficiently and effectively take advantage of localized formation properties.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of circulating algae in growing containers using thermally-induced convection techniques. In particular, a method of growing algae by providing a thermal gradient in algae containing medium is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for extracting geothermal energy from an underground hot dry rock reservoir using supercritical carbon dioxide are disclosed. In a first step, the methods and systems utilize a heat exchanger in a binary system to heat a secondary fluid that is used to perform work. In a second step, the supercritical carbon dioxide is transferred to a pseudo turbine (e.g., a free-piston linear engine) to perform additional work through expansion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of circulating algae in growing containers using thermally-induced convection techniques. In particular, a method of growing algae by providing a thermal gradient in algae containing medium is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of determining the proportion of short-chain branching in an olefin copolymer process stream is disclosed. The short-chain branching may also be determined as a function of molecular weight in a sample having a range of molecular weights. In the method, at least two olefin copolymer training samples are provided. The respective samples have different, known proportions of short-chain branching. The infrared (e.g. FT-IR) absorbance spectra of the training samples in a wavenumber range are obtained. Calibration information is determined from the training samples by chemometrically correlating the differences in the infrared absorbance spectra of the training samples to the differences in the degree of short-chain branching in the training samples. This step generates calibration information that allows the degree of short-chain branching in a sample to be determined once its infrared absorbance spectrum is obtained.

Abstract: Oxygenated hydrocarbon fuel compositions for use in internal combustion engines with naphtha, alcohol(s), and ether(s) with or without additives are disclosed. Combustion of the fuel compositions results in reduced pollution emissions compared to conventional gasoline and can cost must less than conventional gasoline with comparable or improved engine performance.

Abstract: A method of determining the proportion of short-chain branching in an olefin copolymer process stream is disclosed. The short-chain branching may also be determined as a function of molecular weight in a sample having a range of molecular weights. In the method, at least two olefin copolymer training samples are provided. The respective samples have different, known proportions of short-chain branching. The infrared (e.g. FT-IR) absorbance spectra of the training samples in a wavenumber range are obtained. Calibration information is determined from the training samples by chemometrically correlating the differences in the infrared absorbance spectra of the training samples to the differences in the degree of short-chain branching in the training samples. This step generates calibration information that allows the degree of short-chain branching in a sample to be determined once its infrared absorbance spectrum is obtained.

Abstract: A method of determining the proportion of short-chain branching in an olefin copolymer process stream is disclosed. The short-chain branching may also be determined as a function of molecular weight in a sample having a range of molecular weights. In the method, at least two olefin copolymer training samples are provided. The respective samples have different, known proportions of short-chain branching. The infrared (e.g. FT-IR) absorbance spectra of the training samples in a wavenumber range are obtained. Calibration information is determined from the training samples by chemometrically correlating the differences in the infrared absorbance spectra of the training samples to the differences in the degree of short-chain branching in the training samples. This step generates calibration information that allows the degree of short-chain branching in a sample to be determined once its infrared absorbance spectrum is obtained.

Abstract: A process is provided by the invention which comprises: (a) providing a tubular reactor having an inlet and an outlet, a furnace for heating the reactor, and a cooler having an inlet in communication with the reactor outlet and also having an outlet; (b) introducing a substantially constant flow of feed gas comprising steam to the reactor inlet while the reactor is heated by the furnace to produce a predetermined and substantially constant reactor outlet temperature; and (c) controlling, during at least a portion of (b), the concentration of an antifoulant in the feed gas based on cooler outlet temperature.

Abstract: A process is provided by the invention which comprises: (a) providing a tubular reactor having an inlet and an outlet, a furnace for heating the reactor, and a cooler having an inlet in communication with the reactor outlet and also having an outlet; (b) introducing a substantially constant flow of feed gas comprising steam to the reactor inlet while the reactor is heated by the furnace to produce a predetermined and substantially constant reactor outlet temperature; and (c) controlling, during at least a portion of (b), the concentration of an antifoulant in the feed gas based on cooler outlet temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing acid soluble oils, produced as an undesirable by-product of an HF (catalyzed alkylation reaction, from a fluid containing a sulfone compound. The process includes the use of hydrocarbons to remove ASO from the sulfone-containing fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing acid soluble oils, produced as an undesirable by-product of an HF catalyzed alkylation reaction, from a fluid containing a sulfone compound. The process includes the use of hydrocarbons to remove ASO from the sulfone-containing fluid.

Abstract: In a continuous adsorption process using dual towers for separation of a multi-component feed with one tower active and the other on regeneration, automatic switching of the tower feed based on loading of a hydrogen fluoride (HF) component in the active tower is achieved by inferring HF loading based on concentration measurement of acid soluble oil (ASO). An optimum switching point, which switches tower feed near full HF capacity of the active tower but before HF breakthrough occurs, is based on calculating a second derivative for a concentration vs. time curve of ASO in the active bed effluent.

Abstract: Described is a novel acid-soluble oil composition produced as a by-product from an alkylation reaction catalyzed by a sulfone-containing catalyst. Also described is a novel process for regenerating an alkylation catalyst which contains a sulfone component. The regeneration process utilizes alumina adsorbent to remove a substantial portion of the hydrogen halide from the spent catalyst, thereby producing a neutralized stream, which is then treated with carbon to remove a substantial portion of the reaction by-product to produce a sulfone stream substantially free of reaction by-product and hydrogen halide.