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Use of Geothermal Energy Sources

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "H: Geo-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2021) | Viewed by 15098

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Interests: Assessment of the effectiveness of technologies related to the use of renewable energy, associated with the direct use of geothermal energy and indirect use of low-temperature geothermal resources; multidirectional use of geothermal resources, considering issues related to the use of cooled geothermal waters, district heating, and water treatment; mathematical and numerical modelling of district heating and geothermal systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Guest Editor is inviting submissions for a Special Issue of Energies on the subject area of "Use of Geothermal Energy Sources". Geothermal energy use is associated with the close cooperation of specialists representing many science and technology fields: geologists, hydrogeologists, geochemists, specialists in reservoir engineering, drilling, energy (both district heating and power production), environmental protection, and economy. Legal actions that ensure geothermal energy is safely available and follows applicable regulations are essential here. Geothermal energy is one of the most capital-consuming of the renewable energy sources (RESs). There are many problems and issues to overcome. So, what does it offer? Is it worth using? Geothermal energy is one of the RESs characterized by full availability and stability regardless of changing weather conditions. Research on its usage showed that geothermal energy is not only an energy source. Cooled geothermal water is a valuable resource that can be used in many ways. Available technologies allow for its purification and the use of drinkable water. In some cases, the quality of geothermal water is so good that after being cooled, it can be used to improve the water balance of shallow water-bearing aquifers. Balneology and recreation use the properties of geothermal water directly; these are some of the oldest ways of using geothermal energy and water. Apart from the energy industry, new technologies that allow the reduction of the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are emerging. Most of the above-mentioned topics are the subjects of this Special Issue of Energies.

Prof. Dr. Leszek Pająk
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Geothermal energy
  • Geothermal water treatment
  • Numerical and mathematical modelling
  • Hybrid energy sources
  • Heat pumps
  • Geotherm resources assessment
  • Energy efficiency
  • Environmental effects assessment
  • Energy storage (district heating and cooling (DHC ), aquifer thermal energy storage (ATS), borehole heat exchangers (BHE))
  • Unconventional geothermal systems (HDR, HDR-CO2, and others)

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 7990 KiB  
Article
Reduction of Fractionation of Lightweight Slurry to Geothermal Boreholes
by Marcin Kremieniewski, Bartłomiej Jasiński, Grzegorz Zima and Łukasz Kut
Energies 2021, 14(12), 3686; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14123686 - 21 Jun 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1822
Abstract
When designing the cement slurry for casing string cementing in geothermal boreholes, the appropriate thermal conductivity is selected. In the zone of geothermal water, where thermal energy is collected, cement slurry is used, from which the cement sheath has high thermal conductivity. On [...] Read more.
When designing the cement slurry for casing string cementing in geothermal boreholes, the appropriate thermal conductivity is selected. In the zone of geothermal water, where thermal energy is collected, cement slurry is used, from which the cement sheath has high thermal conductivity. On the other hand, the remaining part of the opening is sealed with slurry, from which the cement sheath will reduce thermal energy losses through appropriate thermal insulation. Cement slurry with appropriate thermal insulation includes light insulating materials. However, the use of such additives is very problematic as they are fractionated due to their low density. Therefore, measures should be taken to prevent fractionation of the cement slurry for sealing geothermal boreholes. This article presents the results of research on fractionation of cement slurries for sealing geothermal boreholes. 12 slurries were used for the tests. Six of them are based on class A cement, and six based on class G cement. This action shows the differences in fractionation depending on the binder used. However, the main area of research is determining the effectiveness of counteracting fractionation by the means used for this purpose. As a result of the conducted works, a very good improvement of the cement slurry stability is obtained after the introduction of xanthan gum, as well as filtration perlite. These measures prevent fractionation, so that the cement slurry has a homogeneous structure, and the cement sheath provides the required thermal insulation in the geothermal well. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Geothermal Energy Sources)
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21 pages, 1807 KiB  
Article
Geothermal Boreholes in Poland—Overview of the Current State of Knowledge
by Tomasz Sliwa, Aneta Sapińska-Śliwa, Andrzej Gonet, Tomasz Kowalski and Anna Sojczyńska
Energies 2021, 14(11), 3251; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14113251 - 2 Jun 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3322
Abstract
Geothermal energy can be useful after extraction from geothermal wells, borehole heat exchangers and/or natural sources. Types of geothermal boreholes are geothermal wells (for geothermal water production and injection) and borehole heat exchangers (for heat exchange with the ground without mass transfer). The [...] Read more.
Geothermal energy can be useful after extraction from geothermal wells, borehole heat exchangers and/or natural sources. Types of geothermal boreholes are geothermal wells (for geothermal water production and injection) and borehole heat exchangers (for heat exchange with the ground without mass transfer). The purpose of geothermal production wells is to harvest the geothermal water present in the aquifer. They often involve a pumping chamber. Geothermal injection wells are used for injecting back the produced geothermal water into the aquifer, having harvested the energy contained within. The paper presents the parameters of geothermal boreholes in Poland (geothermal wells and borehole heat exchangers). The definitions of geothermal boreholes, geothermal wells and borehole heat exchangers were ordered. The dates of construction, depth, purposes, spatial orientation, materials used in the construction of geothermal boreholes for casing pipes, method of water production and type of closure for the boreholes are presented. Additionally, production boreholes are presented along with their efficiency and the temperature of produced water measured at the head. Borehole heat exchangers of different designs are presented in the paper. Only 19 boreholes were created at the Laboratory of Geoenergetics at the Faculty of Drilling, Oil and Gas, AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow; however, it is a globally unique collection of borehole heat exchangers, each of which has a different design for identical geological conditions: heat exchanger pipe configuration, seal/filling and shank spacing are variable. Using these boreholes, the operating parameters for different designs are tested. The laboratory system is also used to provide heat and cold for two university buildings. Two coefficients, which separately characterize geothermal boreholes (wells and borehole heat exchangers) are described in the paper. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Geothermal Energy Sources)
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25 pages, 20603 KiB  
Article
The Use of Geothermal Energy to Heating Crops under Cover: A Case Study of Poland
by Sławomir Kurpaska, Mirosław Janowski, Maciej Gliniak, Anna Krakowiak-Bal and Urszula Ziemiańczyk
Energies 2021, 14(9), 2618; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092618 - 3 May 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2783
Abstract
Among the many different applications of geothermal energy, its use for agricultural production purposes is noteworthy. The use of geothermal water in greenhouse cultivation is the most modern form of production; it enables the implementation of the production cycle throughout the year while [...] Read more.
Among the many different applications of geothermal energy, its use for agricultural production purposes is noteworthy. The use of geothermal water in greenhouse cultivation is the most modern form of production; it enables the implementation of the production cycle throughout the year while reducing energy costs. In this paper, based on basic heat transfer relations, the heat demand of modern greenhouse constructions was determined. The monthly and year-round heat demand was determined for facilities with diversified heights of the side walls. Depending on the type of unit of greenhouse area analysed (1 ha), the calculated annual heat demand ranged from 11.05 to 12.46 TJ. Based on data on the geothermal energy potential in Poland, investment costs and payback periods were determined for the analysed locations. The locations of the facilities were selected based on traditions of plant cultivation in the greenhouse facilities and the availability of geothermal energy. The analysis showed that, under the adopted conditions, without additional co-financing, and in one of the considered locations, the investment will result in positive financial effects after 15 years. In the case of co-financing, at the level of currently existing values, all locations—irrespective of the assumed period of exploitation—showed satisfactory financial effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Geothermal Energy Sources)
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12 pages, 2419 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Conventional and Variable Borehole Heat Exchangers for Use in a Desiccant Assisted Air Conditioning System
by Finn Richter, Peter Niemann, Matthias Schuck, Jürgen Grabe and Gerhard Schmitz
Energies 2021, 14(4), 926; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14040926 - 10 Feb 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1859
Abstract
The objective of this work is to analyze a gas injection borehole heat exchanger coupled with a desiccant assisted air conditioning system during cooling and heating operation. A common problem that occurs in air conditioning systems is peak loads, during which the cooling [...] Read more.
The objective of this work is to analyze a gas injection borehole heat exchanger coupled with a desiccant assisted air conditioning system during cooling and heating operation. A common problem that occurs in air conditioning systems is peak loads, during which the cooling or heating power of the soil can be exceeded. To counteract this drawback, a gas injection borehole heat exchanger, which is capable of creating artificial groundwater flow along the heat exchanger by inducing a pressure difference inside the well, is used. Experimental results of the performance differences between a conventional and a gas injection borehole heat exchanger are presented. Under the same inlet conditions, a reduction in the outlet temperature of up to 2 °C is achieved compared with an equivalent conventional borehole heat exchanger in cooling mode. The maximum cooling power is increased by 26%. As a result, a fast and dynamic responding control of the heat transfer between the heat exchanger and the soil is possible. During winter operation, despite the lower drilling depth of the gas injection borehole heat exchanger system, the performance is within the range of a conventional system. The power increase is limited to around 0.2 kWth at a steady state. In conclusion, gas injection borehole heat exchangers can be promising in terms of reliable peak load handling within large geothermal fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Geothermal Energy Sources)
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17 pages, 5503 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Lower Carboniferous-Devonian Aquifer as a Source of Geothermal Energy in the Silesian–Kraków Region (Poland)
by Antoni Barbacki, Maciej Miecznik, Barbara Tomaszewska and Robert Skrzypczak
Energies 2020, 13(24), 6694; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13246694 - 18 Dec 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1852
Abstract
In view of the disastrous air pollution in the Silesian–Kraków region, reducing emissions from the combustion of conventional fuels is a particularly important issue. Geothermal energy is among the clean and renewable sources of heat that could be used to this end, for [...] Read more.
In view of the disastrous air pollution in the Silesian–Kraków region, reducing emissions from the combustion of conventional fuels is a particularly important issue. Geothermal energy is among the clean and renewable sources of heat that could be used to this end, for instance for recreation or space heating purposes. However, its use in the region is limited, mainly due to insufficient knowledge of the characteristics of the geothermal complexes present. Mesozoic complexes in the region have much smaller energy resources compared to the Polish Lowlands or Podhale, but Paleozoic ones, mainly the Lower Carboniferous and Devonian, offer realistic prospects for energy extraction. The aim of this study was to identify geothermal conditions within the Lower Carboniferous–Devonian complex, primarily in terms of using the waters present there for space heating purposes. The prospective zones identified and indicated during the research are only forecasts, and their actual utility can only be confirmed after new wells have been drilled to verify the actual conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Geothermal Energy Sources)
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18 pages, 4308 KiB  
Article
Physicochemical Composition Variability and Hydraulic Conditions in a Geothermal Borehole—The Latest Study in Podhale Basin, Poland
by Agnieszka Operacz, Bogusław Bielec, Barbara Tomaszewska and Michał Kaczmarczyk
Energies 2020, 13(15), 3882; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13153882 - 30 Jul 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1909
Abstract
In deep geothermal boreholes, an effect of temperature (so-called thermal lift) is observed, which results in the volumetric expansion of the fluid extracted. This process results in increased wellhead pressure values being recorded; in the absence of an appropriate correction, hydraulic properties of [...] Read more.
In deep geothermal boreholes, an effect of temperature (so-called thermal lift) is observed, which results in the volumetric expansion of the fluid extracted. This process results in increased wellhead pressure values being recorded; in the absence of an appropriate correction, hydraulic properties of the reservoir layer cannot be properly determined. As an example of this effect, the Chochołów PIG-1 (CH PIG-1) geothermal borehole situated in Podhale Basin in Poland was used. Hydrodynamic tests including two pumping phases were carried out in the well in order to establish the basic hydraulic properties related to the determination of its operational resources (maximum water extraction value–capacity) and permissible groundwater level. Particular attention was paid to the thermal lift effect in the borehole. The conductivity, which depends on the pumping level, could be two to three times higher with temperature correction than results without any correction. The goal was to analyse the variability of the observed physiochemical properties of the exploited geothermal waters and to determine the correlation between the properties analysed and the temperature of the geothermal water. For the relationship between temperature and the observed pressure at the wellhead, the value of the correlation coefficient was negative (a negative linear relationship was determined), which means that as the temperature increases, the wellhead pressure decreases. The hydrodynamic tests carried out in the CH PIG-1 borehole and the analysis of variability of selected ions and parameters in exploited water were necessary to assess the possibility of increasing the efficiency (Q) of the CH PIG-1 borehole and to determine the water quality and its natural variability. Such information is crucial for the functioning of the recreational complex based on the use of geothermal water. A study of the phenomena affecting the exploitation of hot water from deep boreholes enables their effective exploitation and the use of resources in accordance with the expectations of investors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Geothermal Energy Sources)
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