System and apparatus for spallation drilling
View Patent ↗A spallation drilling apparatus is also disclosed that uses jets of hot fluid for drilling. This is compatible with drilling wells in high temperature zones, such as a lava dome. A simplified pyrolysis reactor for use in a lava dome is also disclosed, in which the dome functions to contain the reaction, and the apparatus to facilitate pyrolysis is far more compact.
1. An apparatus for transferring geothermal heat comprising:
an internal chamber configured to hold a thermal fluid and withstand high temperatures;
a first connector for insertion of the thermal fluid into the internal chamber;
a second connector for removal of the thermal fluid from the internal chamber;
an inflatable bladder configured to prevent the apparatus from turning within a geothermal well;
an exterior shell including:
a first terminal end having an aperture configured to engage a thermal fluid connector;
a second terminal end configured to support material disposed within the exterior shell; and
a nozzle disposed on the second terminal end, the thermal fluid flowing through the nozzle; and
a mechanism configured to lower and raise the apparatus into and out of the geothermal well;
wherein the nozzle is independently controlled to point at a specific angle to a side of the geothermal well; and
wherein the nozzle is turned to the specific angle and the inflatable bladder prevents rotation of the nozzle away from the specific angle.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an outer chamber containing a thermal material surrounding the internal chamber, wherein the thermal fluid is heated by the thermal material.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pumping system that pressurizes the thermal fluid and pumps the thermal fluid into the internal chamber and out the nozzle.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a debris chamber for collecting debris created during drilling.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the inflatable bladder prevents the debris from flowing up the geothermal well and directs the debris into the debris chamber during drilling.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a conventional drill bit.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
sensors for reading drilling conditions.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second nozzle on the second terminal end, the thermal fluid flowing through the second nozzle.
9. A system for drilling a borehole comprising:
an internal chamber configured to accept a thermal fluid and withstand high temperatures;
an external chamber surrounding the internal chamber containing a thermal material;
a first connector to enable insertion of the thermal fluid into the internal chamber;
an inflatable bladder configured to prevent the drilling system from turning within the borehole; and
an exterior shell including:
a first terminal end having an aperture configured to engage a thermal fluid connector;
a second terminal end opposite the first terminal end; and
a nozzle disposed on the second terminal end, the thermal fluid flowing through the nozzle;
wherein the nozzle is independently controlled to point at a specific angle to a side of the geothermal well; and
wherein the nozzle is turned to the specific angle and the inflatable bladder prevents rotation of the nozzle away from the specific angle.
10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a mechanism configured to lower and raise the system into and out of a borehole.
11. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a conventional drill bit.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein
the nozzle is configured to release the thermal fluid in a jet.
13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a pumping system that pumps the thermal fluid into the internal chamber and out the nozzle.
14. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a second nozzle on the second terminal end, the thermal fluid flowing through the second nozzle.
15. A method for drilling, the method comprising:
directing a nozzle on a drill head at a specific angle to a side of a geothermal well;
preventing rotation of a drilling apparatus within the geothermal well using an inflatable bladder;
pressurizing a drilling fluid using a pumping system;
storing a thermal material in a thermal chamber;
heating the drilling fluid by passing the drilling fluid through the thermal material by means of a pipe disposed within the thermal chamber; and
spraying the pressurized drilling fluid from the nozzle in a jet;
wherein the nozzle is independently controlled to point at the specific angle to the side of the geothermal well; and
wherein the inflatable bladder prevents rotation of the nozzle away from the specific angle.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
stabilizing the drill head by inflating the bladder.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining drilling conditions within a borehole using sensors.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
adjusting a flow rate and temperature of the drilling fluid based on conditions within the geothermal well.
19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
spraying the pressurized drilling fluid from a second nozzle.