GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

The thermal energy contained in the interior of the earth is called

geothermal energy. Volcanoes, geysers, and hot springs are visible evidence of
a large amount of heat lying in Earth’s interior. The geothermal is enormous and
last for several millions of years. Hence, it is called renewable energy.
• Energy presents as heat ( i.e. thermal energy ) in the earth’s crust.

• The more readily accessible heat is in the uppermost part (10 km ) or crust
constitutes a potentially useful and almost the inexhaustible source of energy.

• This heat is apparent from the increase in temperature of the earth with an
increase in depth below the surface.

• Although higher and lower temperatures or cross the average temperatures occur,
the average temperature at the depth of 10 kilometers is 200 degrees celsius.
• The molten rock within the earth
is called magma.

• It is commonly presented at a
depth of about 32 km on an
average with a temperature of
about 3000 degrees C.

• In some places, anomalous

geologic conditions cause the
magma to be pushed up towards
the surface where the heat of the
magma is being conducted
upward through an overlying
rock layer.

• The figure shows a typical

geothermal field.
• The hot magma near the surface (A) solidifies into igneous rock (D).
• The heal of the magma is conducted upward to this igneous rock.
• Ground water which finds its way down to this rock through cracks is
healed by the heat of the rock or by mixing with hot gases and steam
coming from magma.
• Then the heated water convectively rises upward and into a porous and
permeable reservoir (C) above flit igneous rock.
• The reservoir is capped by a layer of the impermeable solid rock (D) which
traps the hot water in the reservoir.
• The solid rock has fissures (E) which act as vents of the giant underground
boiler.
• The vents show up at the surface as geysers fumaroles (I ) or hot spring (G).
• A well (H) traps steam from fissures for the use in a geothermal power
plant.
HYDROTHERMAL RESOURCES
It arise when water has access
to high temperature rocks, this
accounts for the description as
"hydrothermal". The heat is
transported from the hot rocks
by circulating movement (i.e.,
by convection of the water in a
porous medium). The general
geological structure of a
hydrothermal convective region
is shown in simplified form in
Fig. 8.2.
Vapor Dominated Systems.
In these systems the water is vaporized into steam that reaches the surface in a
relatively dry condition at about 200°C and rarely above 7 kg/cm³ (8 bar).

Liquid dominated Systems.

In these systems the hot water circulating and trapped underground is at a

temperature range of 175 to 315°C. When tapped by wells drilled in the right
places and to the right depths, the water flows naturally to the surface or is
pumped upto it. The drop in pressure, usually to 7 kg/em (8 bar) or less, causes it
to partially flash to a two-phase mixture of low quality Le, liquid-dominated. It
contains relatively large concentration of dissolved solids ranging between 3000
to 25,000 ppm and sometimes higher. Power production is adversely effected by
these solids because they precipitate and cause scaling in pipes and heat
exchanger surfaces, thus reducing flow and heat transfer
2. Flash Steam Plant
• Flash steam power plants are the most commonly employed
geothermal plants today.
• They operate on the geothermal reservoires having water
temperature greater than 180 degree celcius.
• The high pressure hot water from the reservoir flows up through
the production well due to its own pressure.
• The pressure decreases as the water flows upwards and, hence,
some of it gets converted into steam.
• The steam is seperated from the water by steam seperator and
sent to drive the steam turbine.
• The unused water as well as the condensed steam are injected
back through the injection well.
Binary Steam Plant
Binary power plants are the recent
development.

They have made it possible to

produce electricity from
geothermal reservoirs with
temperatures lower than 150
degree celcius.

In these plants, hot water from

geothermal reservoir is used to
heat up an another organic fluid
having a lower boiling point.
Thus, here, the working fluid is
the secondary organic fluid and
not the water from reservoir.
The heat energy from the water
is transferred to the working
fluid in the heat exchanger. As a
result, the working fluid
vaporizes, and then drives the
turbines. The spent fluid passes
through the condenser and the
cycle repeats. The water is
injected back into the reservoir
through the injection well.
(2) Geopressured Systems.
These resources occur in large, deep sedimentary basins. The reservoirs contain
moderately high temperature water (or brine) under very high pressure. They
are of special interest because substantial amounts of methane CH4, (natural
gas) are dissolved in the pressurized water (or brine) and are released when the
pressure is reduced. Geopressured water is tapped in much deeper underground
acquifers (it is a water-bearing stratum of permeable rock, gravel or sand), at
depths between about 2400 to 9000 m. This water is thought to be at the
relatively low temperature of about 160°C and is under very high pressure,
from the overlying formation above, of about 1050 kg/cm² (more than 1000
bar). It has a relatively high salinity of 4 to 10 per cent and is often referred to
as brine. The geopressured resources are quite large: they could be used for the
generation of electric power and the recovery of natural gas if suitable
technology could be developed and if individual reservoir productivity and
longevity prove to be adequate.
 Geopressurized reservoirs
• Geopressurized
reservoirs are
sedimentary
formations
containing hot
water (brine-water
saturated with salt)
and methane gas.
• Could be a source
of both power and
natural gas
(3) Hot Dry Rocks (or Petrothermal Systems).
These are very hot solid rocks occurring at moderate depths but to which water
does not have access, either because of the absence of ground-water or the low
permeability of the rock (or both). In order to utilize this resource, means must
be found for breaking up impermeable rock at depth, introducing cold water,
and recovering the resulting hot water (or steam) for use at the surface. The
known temperatures of HDR vary between 150 to 290°C. This energy, called
petrothermal energy, represents by far the largest resource of geothermal
energy of any type, as it accounts for large percent of the geothermal resource.
Much of the HDR occurs at moderate depths, but it is largely impermeable as
stated above in order to extract thermal energy out of it, water will have to be
pumped into it and back out to the surface.
(4) Magma Resources.

These consist of partially or completely molten rock, with

temperatures in excess of 650°C, which may be encountered at
moderate depths, especially in recently active volcanic regions.
These resources have a large geothermal energy content, but they
are restricted to a relatively few locations. Furthermore, the very
high temperatures will make extraction of the energy a difficult
technological problem.
 Advantages of Geothermal energy :
1.It is versatile in its use and reliable source of energy.
2.It is cheaper compared to energies obtained from other sources both zero fuels and fossil fuels.
3.Geothermal plants require little land area.
4.Using geothermal energy directly for heating applications can be up to 70% more efficient.
5.Its availability is independent of the weather.
6.It has an inherent storage feature and hence no extra storage systems are necessary.
7.It delivers a greater amount of net energy from its system than other alternative or
conventional systems.
8.It has the highest annual load factor of 85 % to 90 % compared to 45% to 50% for fossil fuel
plants.
9. It leads to minimum pollution compared to other conventional energy sources.
10.Using geothermal energy directly for heating applications can be up to 70 % more efficient.
11.Once built, geothermal power station operating costs are small making geothermal generated
electricity much cheaper.
12.Ground-based geothermal heat pumps for heating and cooling can be used almost anywhere.
 Disadvantages of geothermal energy :
1.Overall efficiency for power production is low about 15% when compared to
35-40% for fossil fuel plants.
2.The steam and hot water gushing out of the earth may contain H2S , CO2 ,NH3,
and radon gas, etc. These gases are to be removed by chemical action before they
are discharged.
3.Drilling operation is noisy
4.Large area is required for the exploitation of geothermal energy as much
diffused.
5.Continuous extraction of heated groundwater may lead to subsidence of land.
6.The corrosive and abrasive geothermal fluid reduces the life of plants.
7.Thermal energy cannot be distributed easily over a long distance ( longer than
30 km )
8.Initial capital and installation costs are high.
Direct Uses of Geothermal Energy
It is more appropriate for sources below 150 degrees C. It is
used for.
1.Space heating
2.Air conditioning
3.Industrial processes
4.Drying
5.Greenhouses
6.Aquaculture
7.Hot water
8.Resorts and pools
9.melting snow.
Applications of Geothermal Energy :

•It is used in generating electric power.

•It is used in industrial process heat.

•It is used in space heating for various kinds of

buildings.

•It is used in agricultural and related applications.