Patents by Inventor Christian Gradl

Christian Gradl has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11927369
    Abstract: A method and system may be used for storing energy in a geothermal system and recovering both the stored energy as well as thermal energy on demand. The geothermal system may include injection and production wells that are hydraulically coupled in a geothermal energy reservoir that behaves as a confined reservoir system with thermal energy transferring to fluid injected into the injection well and removed via the production well. Injection flow rate, injection pressure, production flow rate, production backpressure, or fluid residence time may be managed to control energy consumption or energy generation profiles of the geothermal system. During an energy storage mode, the injection flow rate exceeds the production flow rate thereby storing energy in the geothermal reservoir. During an energy recovery mode, production backpressure is reduced thereby releasing the stored energy and electricity is generated by removing the thermal energy from the fluid in a heat engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Fervo Energy Company
    Inventors: Jack Norbeck, Timothy Latimer, Christian Gradl
  • Publication number: 20230408151
    Abstract: A method and system may be used for storing energy in a geothermal system and recovering both the stored energy as well as thermal energy on demand. The geothermal system may include injection and production wells that are hydraulically coupled in a geothermal energy reservoir that behaves as a confined reservoir system with thermal energy transferring to fluid injected into the injection well and removed via the production well. Injection flow rate, injection pressure, production flow rate, production backpressure, or fluid residence time may be managed to control energy consumption or energy generation profiles of the geothermal system. During an energy storage mode, the injection flow rate exceeds the production flow rate thereby storing energy in the geothermal reservoir. During an energy recovery mode, production backpressure is reduced thereby releasing the stored energy and electricity is generated by removing the thermal energy from the fluid in a heat engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Jack Norbeck, Timothy Latimer, Christian Gradl