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    Geothermal

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    Kodanda Ramarao
    Geothermal energy has the potential to replace all electricity needs in the long term, including heating and cooling applications. In the short term, it may be able to replace 2-10% of lost oil imports within a few years to a decade. Geothermal heat pumps are already a viable technology to efficiently heat and cool over 300,000 buildings in the US using the stable underground temperature. While the technology exists to generate electricity from shallow reservoirs, the number of suitable high-temperature reservoirs is currently limited.

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    Geothermal

    Uploaded by

    Kodanda Ramarao
    46 views38 pages
    Geothermal energy has the potential to replace all electricity needs in the long term, including heating and cooling applications. In the short term, it may be able to replace 2-10% of lost oil imports within a few years to a decade. Geothermal heat pumps are already a viable technology to efficiently heat and cool over 300,000 buildings in the US using the stable underground temperature. While the technology exists to generate electricity from shallow reservoirs, the number of suitable high-temperature reservoirs is currently limited.

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    Geothermal energy has the potential to replace all electricity needs in the long term, including heating and cooling applications. In the short term, it may be able to replace 2-10% of lost oil imports within a few years to a decade. Geothermal heat pumps are already a viable technology to efficiently heat and cool over 300,000 buildings in the US using the stable underground temperature. While the technology exists to generate electricity from shallow reservoirs, the number of suitable high-temperature reservoirs is currently limited.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    46 views38 pages

    Geothermal

    Uploaded by

    Kodanda Ramarao
    Geothermal energy has the potential to replace all electricity needs in the long term, including heating and cooling applications. In the short term, it may be able to replace 2-10% of lost oil imports within a few years to a decade. Geothermal heat pumps are already a viable technology to efficiently heat and cool over 300,000 buildings in the US using the stable underground temperature. While the technology exists to generate electricity from shallow reservoirs, the number of suitable high-temperature reservoirs is currently limited.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pdf or txt
    of 38

    GEOTHERMAL ENERGY:

    Summary of Conclusion
    Short Term:
    Not a Viable Option to Replace 25%
    Loss in Oil Imports. Perhaps 2-10%
    Could Be Replaced in a Few Years to a
    Decade.
    Long Term (Likely Decades):
    Capable of Replacing All Electricity
    Needs, Including All HVAC Applications
    What is Geothermal Energy?

    Geo (Greek for earth)


    Thermal (heat)
    Temp. of Shallow
    Crust (upper 10 ft.)
    Constant 55-75F (13-
    24C)
    Up to 14,400F
    (8,000C) at Molten
    Core (approx. 4,000
    mi. to center of core)
    What is Geothermal Energy Contd?
    Earths Crust Thickness: 3 to 35 Mi.
    Temperature Increases With Depth
    Gradient: 50-87F / Mile (17-30C / km)
    Basic Geothermal Systems Take Advantage of:
    Heat Differential Between Ground and Indoor Air
    Temperatures Heat Pump
    Earth as a Natural Heat Source Power Plants
    Types of Geothermal Resources?

    Geothermal Sources are Classified Based on:


    (1) Temperature, (2) Physical State of H20 (i.e.
    water or steam), and (3) Type of Energy Usage
    Primary Classification is Resource Temperature:
    Low Temperature Reservoir: 50-200 F (10-94 C)
    High Temperature Reservoir: >200 F
    Brief History of Geothermal Energy
    Paleo-Indians Usage Dates
    Back 10,000 Years
    Use by Romans Hot
    Spas; Hot Running Water,
    Etc.
    Early 1800s Yellowstone
    Hot Springs and Hot
    Springs Arkansas
    1830 1st Commercial
    Use; Asa Thompson
    sold Bath in Wooden
    Tub for $1
    History of Geothermal Energy Contd
    In 1852, the Geysers
    Resort Hotel in San
    Fran. CA opened
    108 Years later, 1st
    Geothermal
    Electricity Plant
    Opened at the Same
    Location The
    Gysers
    Basic Types of Geothermal Reservoirs

    3 General Classes of Geothermal Uses


    Ground Source Heat Pump
    Direct Source
    Commercial Electricity Generation: Power Plants
    Need High Capacity Geothermal Reservoir;
    Generally Water / Steam >200F
    Types of Reservoirs Contd
    Low Temperature Reservoirs:
    Available almost anywhere on earth
    Predominantly Used for Heat Pumps
    Space Heating
    Other Common Uses:
    Hot Water Production
    Piped Under Roads / Sidewalks (Klamath
    Falls, Oregon)
    In Greenhouses to Grow Flowers, etc.
    Industrial Uses: dry wood, pasteurize milk,
    grow fish, etc.
    Types of Reservoirs Contd
    High Temperature Reservoirs:
    Availability:
    Can Occur Within a Couple of Miles of Earths
    Surface Where Earths Crust Is Very Thin
    i.e., Closer to Molten Magma at Core
    Suitable for Commercial Production of Electricity
    Power Plants Need High Capacity
    Geothermal Reservoir Water / Steam
    >220F (105C)
    Greatest Potential for Energy Output
    What Makes a Good Geothermal Reservoir
    for Generating Electricity?
    Hot Geothermal Fluids Near Surface (<1-2 mi.)
    Preferably in Excess of 300F, but Electrical
    Generation Is Occurring at Temps. In the Low
    200sF.
    Proximity to Population Base
    Low Mineral and Gas Content
    Location on Private Land
    Proximity to Transmission Lines
    Needed Technology: Are We Talking Simple,
    Existing Technology or Star Wars?

    Answer: Both.
    Technology for HVAC in All Bldgs. in U.S. and for
    Electrical Generation From Shallow (1-2 Mi. Deep)
    Geothermal Reservoirs Already Exists and Is Proven
    Drawback: Number of Electricity Sources Is Limited
    Technology for Tapping Deep (>3-6 Miles), Hot Dry
    Sources and Magma Is Not Yet Available
    Positive: Unlimited, Renewal Resource
    The Geothermal Heat Pump
    Most Basic Form of Geothermal Usage
    What takes advantage of stored heat of near
    surface soil / water (Const. temp of 55-75 F)
    Winter Months uses ground as a heat source
    Transfers heat from warm subsurface to facility
    Summer Months uses ground as a heat sink
    Transfers heat from facility to ground
    Heat Pump Components
    3 Main Parts:
    Underground Piping
    Pump / Heat
    Exchanger System
    Indoor Distribution
    System
    System
    Concentrates
    Natural Heat Instead
    of Production of Heat
    by Combustion
    Underground Piping Configurations
    Vertical Installation:
    150-500 ft. U-shaped
    pipe
    Horizontal Inst.:
    1000 ft. pipe buried
    at 4-8 feet below
    grade
    Heat Pump Uses
    Predominantly Space Heating / Cooling
    Currently Over 300,000 buildings in U.S.
    Homes, Schools, Commercial Complexes,
    and Industrial Facilities
    Water Heating for Hot Water
    Desuperheaters uses heat from heat pumps
    compressor to heat facilitys hot water
    Second Heat Exchanger dedicated to hot water
    HEAT PUMPS: WHAT DO THEY
    COST
    Approx. $2,500 / ton of capacity
    $7,500 for 3 ton system 2,500 3,000 ft2 home
    A 3-ton gas-fired furnace and air conditioner would cost
    approx. $4,000
    Positive Cash Flow Investment
    Monthly Energy Savings Likely to Exceed the Monthly
    Finance Charge for Borrowing the Additional $3,500
    GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMPS: DO THEY
    WORK?
    1993 EPA Study Conducted in 6 Different Climate
    Conditions1
    Named Heat Pump as Most Efficient Heating and
    Cooling System
    Reduction in Energy Consumption of 25%-75% Over
    Older, Conventional Systems
    Lowest Annual Operating Costs
    Little Pollution Produced
    HEAT PUMP EFFECTIVENESS IN
    VARIOUS CILMATES
    Cold Climate - Minnesota House Owned by Dennis
    Eichinger
    3,400 ft2; Avg. Monthly Energy Bill - $44
    Warm Climate FL House Owned by Keith Swilley
    2,000 ft2; Yearly Energy Bill - $253 ($0.69/day)
    1997 Energy Value Housing Award
    What do home Owners Say?
    Even Temperature no cold spots, no fluctuation
    Quite Operation
    Low Maintenance
    Few Moving Parts systems typically last 30 yrs. or
    more; u/g systems frequently warranted up to 50
    years.
    HEAT PUMPS: HOW MUCH ENERGY
    SAVINGS?
    2-5 kW for each residential application
    Therefore, 1000 homes avoids the need to generate 2 to
    5 MW capacity1
    20kW for average commercial installations1
    Currently 400,000 Heat Pumps in U.S.
    1,500 MW of Heating & Cooling2
    Approx. Savings of 33.3 MM barrels oil/yr.
    40,000 being added each year2
    TYPES OF GEOTHERMAL POWER
    PLANTS
    Different Types of Plants are Required to Take
    Advantage of the Particular Characteristics of
    Each Specific Geothermal Site
    Main Types of Geothermal Power Plants:
    Dry Steam
    Flash Steam
    Binary Cycle
    Dry Steam Geothermal Plants
    Uses Steam From
    Geothermal Reservoir
    Directly
    Only Requires
    Removal of Rock
    Fragments From
    Steam Prior to
    Entering Turbines
    Only Emissions Are
    Water Vapor
    Dry Steam Geothermal Plants Contd
    The Geysers in CA
    Opened in 1960
    After 30 yrs. temp.
    remains constant;
    pressure drop from 3.3
    to 2.3 MPa near wells
    Output2700 MW;
    enough for San
    Francisco (pop.
    780,000)1
    Why Havent We Built More Dry Steam
    Geothermal Plants?
    Pro:
    Lowest Technology Required Lowest Capital Costs
    Con:
    Ideal Conditions Required
    Few Sites Available (Very Rare) in U.S.
    Flash Steam Geothermal Power Plants
    Injection of Deep, High-
    pressure Water Into
    Low-pressure Tanks;
    Water Flashes to
    Steam Used to Drive
    Turbines
    Excess Water Returned
    to Maintain Pressure in
    Reservoir
    Flash Steam Plants Contd
    Steamboat Springs,
    NV Plant
    Initial Conditions
    Liquid H2O @
    240C, Pressures of
    24 MPa (hydrostatic
    pressure)
    Binary Cycle Geothermal Power Plants
    Moderately Hot Water
    (<175 C) Passed
    Through Heat
    Exchanger
    Heat Transferred to
    Secondary Fluid (Low
    B.P. Fluids (i.e.,
    Propane or Isobutane)
    Which Is Vaporized
    (Flashed)
    Binary Cycle Plants Contd
    Higher Capital Cost
    Needs High Efficiency
    Equip.
    Water Never Contacts
    Turbine/generator Units
    Water Returned Directly
    to Reservoir
    No Plant Emissions!
    Benefits of Geothermal Power
    Generation
    Little to No Pollution
    Flash Plants Emit Only Excess Steam
    Binary Plants Have No Air or Liquid Emissions!
    Expected to Be Dominant Type in Future
    Lake County Home of The Geysers Geothermal
    Plants is One of the Only Counties to Meet CAs
    Stringent Air Quality Standards.
    Benefits of Geothermal Power Contd

    Emission of Low
    Quantities of
    Greenhouse
    Gasses
    Homegrown
    Decreases
    Dependency On
    Foreign Energy
    Benefits of Geothermal Power Contd

    As Opposed to Burning Fossil Fuels, Current


    Geothermal Use Prevents the Yearly Emission of:1
    22 MM tons of CO2
    200k tons of SO2
    80k tons of NOx
    110k tons of Particulates
    Benefits of Geothermal Power Contd
    Some Plants Produce
    Scale Which Is High in
    Minerals (Zinc and S)
    But, The Minerals are
    Now Recyclable and
    Can be Sold For a Profit!
    No Fuel Usage (storage,
    transfer, disposal, mining)
    Benefits of Geothermal Power Contd

    Reliability1:
    Plants Have Very Little
    Down Time - Avg.
    Availability is 90% or
    greater
    60-70% for Coal and
    Nuclear Plants
    Benefits of Geothermal Power Contd
    Another Aspect of
    Resource Reliability
    Old Faithful in
    Yellowstone National
    Park
    Plants Have Been In
    Use in Italy Since 1913,
    New Zealand Since
    1958 and in CA Since
    1960
    Benefits of Geothermal Power Contd
    Minimal Land Use Compared to Other Energy
    Sources
    Requires 400 M2 of Land Per GW of Power Over a
    30 Year Period1
    Compare That to Coal and Nuclear Plants Which
    Require Land for Plant, Mining for Fuel, Storage of
    Fuel and Wastes, Etc.
    Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy
    Contd
    Start-up Costs Are High
    Geothermal Plants Require Significant Capital
    Expenditures, But the Fuel Is Free
    Cost - $1,500-$5,000 / Installed kW Depending on
    Plant Size, Resource Temp. And Chemistry1
    Cost Of Power to Consumer
    Currently, $0.05 to $0.08 / Kwh2
    Needs to Be $0.03 to Be Competitive
    Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy Contd
    Water can be corrosive to plant pipes, equipment
    If water not replaced back into reservoir, subsidence can
    occur
    How Much Water is Needed? Ea. MW requires 500 gpm
    @ 300F; 1400 gpm @ 200F.
    Some high mineral / metal wastewater and solid
    waste is produced
    Smelly gasses H2S, Ammonia, Boron
    Release of steam and hot water can be noisy

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