Patent ID: 7251938

Claim:
A system for recovering geothermal energy and converting it to useful power, the system comprising: an energy conversion station installed in an enclosed cavity below the earth's surface, the station adapted to convert thermal energy to useful power and having an inlet and an outlet; a closed heat exchange conduit system comprising: at least one feed conduit adapted to carry a heat exchange fluid from an entry level at or near the earth's surface down through a subterranean formation, so that the fluid absorbs heat energy from the formation; and a return conduit adapted to carry the heated heat exchange fluid to the inlet of the energy conversion station; and wherein the energy conversion station is placed below the earth's surface a distance selected to create hydrostatic pressure sufficient to circulate heat exchange fluid from the surface down the at least one feed conduit through the subterranean formation and up the return conduit to the energy conversion station; and a power supply conduit adapted to carry power generated by the energy conversion station to the surface.