Subterranean electricity-generating system
View Patent ↗A subterranean electricity-generating system, and methods of making and using the same, whereby the system includes a first generator comprising a first generator rotor and a first generator stator, a second generator comprising a second generator rotor and a second generator stator, and a rotatable shaft operably coupled to the first generator rotor and the second generator rotor to drive rotation thereof. The shaft has a vertical rotation axis, whereby rotation of the shaft drives rotation of the first generator rotor relative to the first generator stator to induce a first electric current, and whereby rotation of the shaft drives rotation of the second generator rotor relative to the second generator stator to induce a second electric current.
1. A subterranean electricity-generating system, comprising:
a first generator comprising a first generator rotor and a first generator stator;
a second generator comprising a second generator rotor and a second generator stator;
wherein said first and second generators are configured to dispose below a ground surface in a vertical hole of a well bore;
a rotatable shaft operably coupled to said first generator rotor and said second generator rotor to drive rotation thereof;
wherein said shaft comprises a vertical rotation axis; and
a driver which directly drives rotation of said shaft;
wherein said driver is configured to dispose at or above said ground surface:
wherein rotation of said shaft drives rotation of said first generator rotor relative to said first generator stator to induce a first electric current; and
wherein rotation of said shaft drives rotation of said second generator rotor relative to said second generator stator to induce a second electric current.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first and second generator rotors rotate about said vertical rotation axis.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said shaft is continuous between opposing shaft first and second ends.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said shaft comprises a plurality of discrete shaft portions.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein said shaft portions connect to one another to operate as a single unit.
6. The system of claim 4 , wherein said shaft portions are connected to one another via a joint.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said shaft portions are connected to one another via a universal joint.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first and second generators are vertically stacked.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said second generator rotor is vertically aligned with said first generator rotor.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein said vertical hole is cased.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein said well bore comprises an abandoned well bore.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein said well bore comprises an orphaned well bore.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein said well bore comprises a non-productive well bore.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first and second electric currents are directed to said ground surface via conductors.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein electricity generated by said first and second generators is transferred to said ground surface for use thereon or storage thereof.