<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-15</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000884504</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>THERMOENERGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TMEN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001440659</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bartlett Joseph P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1900 AVENUE OF THE STARS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>19TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.37</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person was elected to the Board of Directors of the Issuer on October 15, 2009.  Pursuant to the Issuer's 2008 Incentive Stock Plan, the Reporting Person (as a non-employee director) automatically received options to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock of the Issuer at an exercise price of $0.37 per share (the &quot;Option&quot;).  The Option becomes exercisable at the time of the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Issuer (assuming the Reporting Person continues to serve as a director through the date of such meeting) and has a term of 10 years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joseph P. Bartlett</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
