Patents by Inventor Kimberly C. Conner

Kimberly C. Conner 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).

  • Publication number: 20250083999
    Abstract: A cement production system includes a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. The wellbore is configured to heat a heat transfer fluid via heat transfer with the underground magma reservoir. Processes for cement production are driven at least in part by energy obtained from the underground magma reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner, James Michael Browning
  • Publication number: 20250066874
    Abstract: A geothermally powered copper production system includes a geothermal system with a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. A hopper receives a copper oxide ore that is crushed and provided to a leach heap to produce a copper-rich pregnant leach solution. The pregnant leach solution is provided to a settler that is heated by a heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system, and a product of the settler is used to prepare a copper product. A hopper receives a copper sulfide ore that is crushed and provided to a flotation tank. The flotation tank is heated by a heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system, and a product of the flotation tank is used to prepare a copper product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20250066927
    Abstract: A geothermally powered hydrogen production system includes a wellbore that heats a heat transfer fluid, thereby forming heated heat transfer fluid. A heat exchanger heats a feed stream using the heated heat transfer fluid, thereby forming a heated feed stream. An electrolyzer receives the heated feed stream and generates hydrogen from the heated feed stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Kimberly C. Conner, James Michael Browning, Joseph H. Hoyt, Philip Benge
  • Publication number: 20250066873
    Abstract: A geothermally powered copper production system includes a geothermal system with a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. A hopper receives a copper oxide ore that is crushed and provided to a leach heap to produce a copper-rich pregnant leach solution. The pregnant leach solution is provided to a settler that is heated by a heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system, and a product of the settler is used to prepare a copper product. A hopper receives a copper sulfide ore that is crushed and provided to a flotation tank. The flotation tank is heated by a heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system, and a product of the flotation tank is used to prepare a copper product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20250059340
    Abstract: A geothermal system including a heat-driven process system using heat extracted from a magma wellbore for driving a thermal process. The system includes a magma wellbore connected to the heat-driven process system in a closed loop. A heated heat transfer fluid conveys the heat from the magma wellbore to a reactor housing a decomposition reaction. The reactor can be a batch reactor, a continuous reactor, or a through-flow reactor. The heat provides the reaction temperature necessary for driving the decomposition reaction of a polymer to an end product. The heat can be provided directly by the heated heat transfer fluid, by an intermediate heat transfer fluid heated by the heated heat transfer fluid, or by a reaction medium heated by the heated heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20250059342
    Abstract: A geothermal system including a heat-driven process system using heat extracted from a magma wellbore for driving a thermal process. The system includes a magma wellbore connected to the heat-driven process system in a closed loop. A heated heat transfer fluid conveys the heat from the magma wellbore to a reactor housing a decomposition reaction. The reactor can be a batch reactor, a continuous reactor, or a through-flow reactor. The heat provides the reaction temperature necessary for driving the decomposition reaction of a polymer to an end product. The heat can be provided directly by the heated heat transfer fluid, by an intermediate heat transfer fluid heated by the heated heat transfer fluid, or by a reaction medium heated by the heated heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20250059343
    Abstract: A geothermal system including a heat-driven process system using heat extracted from a magma wellbore for driving a thermal process. The system includes a magma wellbore connected to the heat-driven process system in a closed loop. A heated heat transfer fluid conveys the heat from the magma wellbore to a reactor housing a decomposition reaction. The reactor can be a batch reactor, a continuous reactor, or a through-flow reactor. The heat provides the reaction temperature necessary for driving the decomposition reaction of a polymer to an end product. The heat can be provided directly by the heated heat transfer fluid, by an intermediate heat transfer fluid heated by the heated heat transfer fluid, or by a reaction medium heated by the heated heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20250060163
    Abstract: A geothermally powered zinc production subsystem includes a geothermal system with a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. A hopper receives a sphalerite ore that is crushed and provided to a flotation tank. The flotation tank is heated by a heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system, and a product of the flotation tank is used to prepare zinc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20250059623
    Abstract: A geothermally powered zinc production subsystem includes a geothermal system with a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. A hopper receives a sphalerite ore that is crushed and provided to a flotation tank. The flotation tank is heated by a heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system, and a product of the flotation tank is used to prepare zinc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20250059341
    Abstract: A geothermal system including a heat-driven process system using heat extracted from a magma wellbore for driving a thermal process. The system includes a magma wellbore connected to the heat-driven process system in a closed loop. A heated heat transfer fluid conveys the heat from the magma wellbore to a reactor housing a decomposition reaction. The reactor can be a batch reactor, a continuous reactor, or a through-flow reactor. The heat provides the reaction temperature necessary for driving the decomposition reaction of a polymer to an end product. The heat can be provided directly by the heated heat transfer fluid, by an intermediate heat transfer fluid heated by the heated heat transfer fluid, or by a reaction medium heated by the heated heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20250059622
    Abstract: A geothermally powered zinc production subsystem includes a geothermal system with a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. A hopper receives a sphalerite ore that is crushed and provided to a flotation tank. The flotation tank is heated by a heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system, and a product of the flotation tank is used to prepare zinc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20250035374
    Abstract: A method for producing liquefied natural gas includes receiving heated heat transfer fluid from a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir, receiving an initial natural gas stream, performing a purification operation on the initial natural gas stream to form a purified natural gas stream using the heated heat transfer fluid, and condensing the purified natural gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Patent number: 12209776
    Abstract: A geothermal system is used for obtaining heated heat transfer fluid, such as steam, via heat transfer with an underground reservoir of magma. The geothermal system includes a wellbore extending between a surface and into an underground chamber formed in a reservoir of magma. The chamber may be formed by injecting a fluid at an increased pressure into underground magma to form a cavity that acts as the underground chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: EnhancedGEO Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner, Scott Hall
  • Patent number: 12195412
    Abstract: A reaction system includes a wellbore extending from a surface into a subterranean heat source. The reaction system further includes a reaction chamber configured to be maintained at a reaction temperature using heat from the subterranean heat source. The reaction system further includes one or more inlet conduits. The inlet conduits are configured to provide one or more feed streams to the reaction chamber. The reaction system also includes outlet conduits configured to allow flow of one or more product streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: EnhancedGEO Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20240425941
    Abstract: A geothermally powered iron production subsystem includes using heat transfer fluid heated by a geothermal system with a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. A hopper receives iron ore that is crushed and provided to a blast furnace, along with limestone and coke. The blast furnace is heated by a heat exchanger configured to receive the heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system to generate the heat provided to the blast furnace. One or more components of the iron production subsystem may also be powered by the heated heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20240360734
    Abstract: A process for preparing a geothermal system involves preparing a borehole that extends into an underground magma reservoir, providing a flow of a first fluid into the borehole, thereby maintaining a rock layer around a portion of the borehole located within the magma reservoir, lowering a casing into the borehole, and providing a second fluid into the casing, thereby causing the casing to sink into a volume of the first fluid that is inside the borehole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventor: Kimberly C. CONNER
  • Publication number: 20240327951
    Abstract: A geothermally powered red mud processing system includes a geothermal system with a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. Geothermal energy from the geothermal system is used at least in part to extract materials, such as iron, titanium, scandium, and others, from red mud that is the byproduct of an aluminum production process. The aluminum production process may also be powered by geothermal energy from the geothermal system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20240327949
    Abstract: A geothermally powered aluminum production subsystem includes a geothermal system with a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. A hopper receives a bauxite ore that is crushed and provided to a digestor. The digestor is heated by a heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system, and a product of the digestor is used to prepare aluminum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20240294443
    Abstract: A reaction system includes a wellbore extending from a surface into a subterranean heat source. The reaction system further includes a reaction chamber configured to be maintained at a reaction temperature using heat from the subterranean heat source. The reaction system further includes one or more inlet conduits. The inlet conduits are configured to provide one or more feed streams to the reaction chamber. The reaction system also includes outlet conduits configured to allow flow of one or more product streams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner
  • Publication number: 20240295346
    Abstract: A geothermal system is used for obtaining heated heat transfer fluid, such as steam, via heat transfer with an underground reservoir of magma. The geothermal system includes a wellbore extending between a surface and into an underground chamber formed in a reservoir of magma. The chamber may be formed by injecting a fluid at an increased pressure into underground magma to form a cavity that acts as the underground chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Greg Lindberg, Kimberly C. Conner, Scott Hall