GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

What is Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth. It's clean and sustainable. Resources of

geothermal energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles

beneath the Earth's surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten

rock called magma. Almost everywhere, the shallow ground or upper 10 feet of the Earth's surface

maintains a nearly constant temperature between 50 and 60F (10 and 16C). Geothermal heat

pumps can tap into this resource to heat and cool buildings. A geothermal heat pump system

consists of a heat pump, an air delivery system (ductwork), and a heat exchanger-a system of pipes

buried in the shallow ground near the building. In the summer, the process is reversed, and the heat

pump moves heat from the indoor air into the heat exchanger.

In the United States, most geothermal reservoirs of hot water are located in the western

states, Alaska, and Hawaii. Wells can be drilled into underground reservoirs for the generation of

electricity. Some geothermal power plants use the steam from a reservoir to power a

turbine/generator, while others use the hot water to boil a working fluid that vaporizes and then

turns a turbine.

History

It is not surprising that Man has sought to make use of this heat. In ancient times the

Romans, and in modern times the Icelanders, Japanese, Turks and others have used it for baths and

for space heating. The Maoris in New Zealand too have exploited natural heat for their domestic
needs. One of the more interesting sights in their country is a Maori village near Rotorua, in

North Island, where one may see a fisherman catch his trout and drop it into an early pool of boiling

water to cook it.

The first generation

In the first century AD, Romans conquered Aquae Sulis, now Bath, Somerset, England,

and used the hot springs there to feed public baths and underfloor heating. The admission fees for

these baths probably represent the first commercial use of geothermal power. The world's oldest

geothermal district heating system in Chaudes-Aigues, France, has been operating since the 14th

century. The earliest industrial exploitation began in 1827 with the use of geyser steam to

extract boric acid from volcanic mud in Larderello, Italy.

In 1892, America's first district heating system in Boise, Idaho was powered directly by

geothermal energy, and was copied in Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1900. The first known building in

the world to utilize geothermal energy as its primary heat source was the Hot Lake Hotel in Union

County, Oregon, whose construction was completed in 1907.

In 1892, America's first district heating system in Boise, Idaho was powered directly by

geothermal energy, and was copied in Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1900. The first known building in

the world to utilize geothermal energy as its primary heat source was the Hot Lake Hotel in Union

County, Oregon, whose construction was completed in 1907.

A deep geothermal well was used to heat greenhouses in Boise in 1926, and geysers were

used to heat greenhouses in Iceland and Tuscany at about the same time. Charlie Lieb developed
the first downhole heat exchanger in 1930 to heat his house. Steam and hot water from geysers

began heating homes in Iceland starting in 1943.

In the 20th century, demand for electricity led to the consideration of geothermal power as

a generating source. Prince Piero Ginori Contitested the first geothermal power generator on 4 July

1904, at the same Larderello dry steam field where geothermal acid extraction began. It

successfully lit four light bulbs. Later, in 1911, the world's first commercial geothermal power

plant was built there. It was the world's only industrial producer of geothermal electricity until

New Zealand built a plant in 1958. In 2012, it produced some 594 megawatts.

Modern Days

This technology allows the generation of electricity from much lower temperature

resources than previously. In 2006, a binary cycle plant in Chena Hot Springs, Alaska, came on-

line, producing electricity from a record low fluid temperature of 57 C (135 F).

The International Geothermal Association (IGA) has reported that

10,715 megawatts (MW) of geothermal power in 24 countries is online, which was expected to

generate 67,246 GWh of electricity in 2010. This represents a 20% increase in online capacity

since 2005. IGA projects growth to 18,500 MW by 2015, due to the projects presently under

consideration, often in areas previously assumed to have little exploitable resources.

In 2010, the United States led the world in geothermal electricity production with 3,086

MW of installed capacity from 77 power plants. The largest group of geothermal power plants in

the world is located at The Geysers, a geothermal field in California. The Philippines is the second

highest producer, with 1,904 MW of capacity online. Geothermal power makes up approximately

27% of Philippine electricity generation.

 In 2016, Indonesia set in third with 1,647 MW online behind USA at 3,450 MW and the

Philippines at 1,870 MW, but Indonesia will become second due to an additional online 130 MW

at the end of 2016 and 255 MW in 2017. Indonesia's 28,994 MW are the largest geothermal

reserves in the world, and it is predicted to overtake the USA in the next decade.

Typed of Geothermal Plants

There are three basic types of geothermal power plants: dry steam plants, flash

steam plants, and binary cycle power plant.

Dry Steam Plant

Dry steam plants use hydrothermal fluids (steam) directly from a geothermal reservoir to turn

generator turbines. The first geothermal power plant was built in 1904 in Tuscany, Italy, where

natural steam erupted from the earth

Figure 1.1 Dry Steam Plant

Flash steam plants

Flash steam plants are the most common type of geothermal power generation plants in

operation today. Fluid at temperatures greater than 360F (182C) is pumped under high pressure

into a tank at the surface held at a much lower pressure, causing some of the fluid to rapidly

vaporize, or "flash." The vapor then drives a turbine, which drives a generator. If any liquid

remains in the tank, it can be flashed again in a second tank to extract even more energy.

Figure 1.2 Flash Steam Plant

Binary cycle power plants

Binary cycle power plants are closed-loop systems, and virtually nothing (except water

vapor) is emitted to the atmosphere. Because resources below 300F represent the most common
geothermal resource, a significant proportion of geothermal electricity in the future could come

from binary-cycle plants.

Figure 1.3 Pumped Storage Hydro Plant

Inside the geothermal power plant

Steam - The power produced by a machine using pressurized water vapor

Turbine the water strikes and turn the large blades of a turbine, which is attach to a

generator above it by way of a shaft.

 Generator as the turbine turn, so do a series of magnets inside the generator. Hiant

magnets rotate past copper coil, producing alternating current.

Transformer the transformer inside the powerhouse takes the AC and coverts it to a

higher voltage current.

Power Grid - An electrical grid is an interconnected network for delivering electricity

from producers to consumers.

Condenser - is a device or unit used to condense a substance from its gaseous to its liquid

state, by cooling it.

Cooling Tower - is a specialized heat exchanger in which air and water are brought into

direct contact with each other in order to reduce the water's temperature.

Gas removal system - refers to a group of processes that use aqueous solutions of various

alky lamines (commonly referred to simply as amines) to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S)

and carbon dioxide (CO2) from gases.

Figure 1.4 Inside the Geothermal Plant

How geothermal power plant works

Geothermal energy consists of the thermal energy stored in the Earths crust. Thermal

energy in the earth is distributed between the constituent host rock and the natural fluid that is

contained in its fractures and pores at temperatures above ambient levels. These fluids are mostly

water with varying amounts of dissolved salts; typically, in their natural in situ state, they are

present as a liquid phase but sometimes may consist of a saturated, liquid-vapor mixture or

superheated steam vapor phase. The amounts of hot rock and contained fluids are substantially

larger and more widely distributed in comparison to hydrocarbon (oil and gas) fluids contained in

sedimentary rock formations.

The source and transport mechanisms of geothermal heat are unique to this energy source.

Heat flows through the crust of the Earth at an average rate of almost 59 mW/m2 [1.9 x 10-2

Btu/h/ft2]. The intrusion of large masses of molten rock can increase this normal heat flow locally;

but for most of the continental crust, the heat flow is due to two primary processes:

1. Upward convection and conduction of heat from the Earths mantle and core, and

2. Heat generated by the decay of radioactive elements in the crust, particularly isotopes of

uranium, thorium, and potassium.

In all cases, certain conditions must be met before one has a viable geothermal resource.

The first requirement is accessibility. This is usually achieved by drilling to depths of interest,

frequently using conventional methods similar to those used to extract oil and gas from

underground reservoirs. The second requirement is sufficient reservoir productivity. For

hydrothermal systems, one normally needs to have large amounts of hot, natural fluids contained
in an aquifer with high natural rock permeability and porosity to ensure long-term production at

economically acceptable levels. When sufficient natural recharge to the hydrothermal system does

not occur, which is often the case, a reinjection scheme is necessary to ensure production rates will

be maintained.

Thermal energy is extracted from the reservoir by coupled transport processes (convective

heat transfer in porous and/or fractured regions of rock and conduction through the rock itself).

The heat extraction process must be designed with the constraints imposed by prevailing in situ

hydrologic, lithologic, and geologic conditions. Typically, hot water or steam is produced and its

energy is converted into a marketable product (electricity, process heat, or space heat). Water or

working fluid is heated (or used directly in case of geothermal dry steam power plants), and then

sent through a steam turbine where the thermal energy (heat) is converted to electricity with a

generator through a phenomenon called electromagnetic induction.

Any waste products must be properly treated and safely disposed of to complete the

process. Many aspects of geothermal heat extraction are similar to those found in the oil, gas, coal,

and mining industries. Because of these similarities, equipment, techniques, and terminology have

been borrowed or adapted for use in geothermal development, a fact that has, to some degree,

accelerated the development of geothermal resources. Nonetheless, there are inherent differences

that have limited development such as higher well-flow requirements and temperature limitations

to drilling and logging operations.

 Figure 1.5 How Geothermal Plant Works

Benefits

Geothermal prawn farming

The worlds only geothermally heated prawn farm was established in 1987 on the banks of the

Waikato River, next to the Wairkei power station. Geothermal waste heat is used at Taup to

cultivate giant river prawns which require warm temperatures (2428C). This is a good example

of what is known as cascade use, where geothermal heat has a function past its primary purpose.

Cascading improves the overall efficiency of a resource by using its waste products. In the case of

the prawn farm, cascading also reduces the discharge of hot water into the river, where it can harm

aquatic life.
 Horticulture

Geothermal waters are used for heating greenhouses on a small scale (covering 10

hectares in total), especially for the commercial, out-of-season production of vegetables,

flowers and fruit.This includes a large greenhouse (0.8 hectares) for growing orchids for

export, and another set up to grow capsicums with heat from the Kawerau geothermal field.

Other Benefits

Providing Heat For Residential And Commercial Use.

Electricity Generation

Food Processing

Paper processing

Aquaculture

Environmental Impacts
Water Quality and Use

Geothermal power plants can have impacts on both water quality and consumption. Hot

water pumped from underground reservoirs often contains high levels of sulfur, salt, and other

minerals. Most geothermal facilities have closed-loop water systems, in which extracted water is

pumped directly back into the geothermal reservoir after it has been used for heat or electricity

production. In such systems, the water is contained within steel well casings cemented to the

surrounding rock
Air Emissions

The distinction between open- and closed-loop systems is important with respect to air

emissions. In closed-loop systems, gases removed from the well are not exposed to the atmosphere

and are injected back into the ground after giving up their heat, so air emissions are minimal. In

contrast, open-loop systems emit hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane, and boron.

Hydrogen sulfide, which has a distinctive rotten egg smell, is the most common emission

Land use

The amount of land required by a geothermal plant varies depending on the properties of

the resource reservoir, the amount of power capacity, the type of energy conversion system, the

type of cooling system, the arrangement of wells and piping systems, and the substation and

auxiliary building needs.

Life-Cycle Global Warming Emissions

In open-loop geothermal systems, approximately 10 percent of the air emissions are carbon

dioxide, and a smaller amount of emissions are methane, a more potent global warming gas.

Estimates of global warming emissions for open-loop systems are approximately 0.1 pounds of

carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour. In closed-loop systems, these gases are not released

into the atmosphere, but there are a still some emissions associated with plant construction and

surrounding infrastructure.
MERITS OF GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT

1) It is a renewable source of energy.

2) By far, it is non-polluting and environment friendly.

3) There is no wastage or generation of by-products.

4) Geothermal energy can be used directly. In ancient times, people used this source of energy

for heating homes, cooking, etc.

5) Maintenance cost of geothermal power plants is very less.

6) Geothermal power plants don't occupy too much space and thus help in protecting natural

environment.

7) Unlike solar energy, it is not dependent on the weather conditions.

DEMERITS OF GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT

1) Only few sites have the potential of Geothermal Energy.

2) Most of the sites, where geothermal energy is produced, are far from markets or cities, where

it needs to be consumed.

3) Total generation potential of this source is too small.

4) There is always a danger of eruption of volcano.

5) Installation cost of steam power plant is very high.

6) There is no guarantee that the amount of energy which is produced will justify the capital

expenditure and operations costs.

7) It may release some harmful, poisonous gases that can escape through the holes drilled

during construction.

In our country geothermal energy makes up a significant portion of the national energy

budget. While, in theory, geothermal heat pumps can be used anywhere in the world, the extent

to which geothermal power plants or district heating systems can contribute to a given area varies

by location and depends on the preexisting geothermal aquifers, dry steam fields, or subsurface

heat flow in hot rocks three to ten kilometers underground. Thorsteinsson notes that, Unlike wind

and solar where the resource can be measured relatively easily, in geothermal developments

nothing is 100% certain about the resource until a well has been drilled and an economical flow of

fluid/steam has been found (Thorsteinsson 2008, 104). Consequently district heating projects are

risky, complex, and require high levels of initial capital investment. This, combined with

regulatory and informational barriers, makes it unlikely that district heating will contribute

significantly to meeting the United States space heating needs in the near future. Because of rate

structures, district heating is well suited to large buildings of 50,000 square feet or more and

institutional developments with multiple large buildings. The high cost of retrofitting and

connecting preexisting homes or small buildings make district heating economically impractical

in many built-up areas despite the presence of geothermal resources. New developments that

incorporate district heating systems can be economically attractive and such developments are

taking place in the Western United States.

The use of geothermal heat pumps will continue to grow and an increase in qualified and

experienced installers in underserved areas can lower costs. The Friends Center case illustrates
that ground source heat pumps can be utilized in dense urban settings and retrofit situations. Even

at this early stage in the development of deep standing-column geothermal projects in urban

settings, economic benefits can be achieved within a reasonable timeframe for building owners

planning on holding their building for the long-term. This is especially true in the case of owners

for whom environmental concerns outweigh financial motives.

The presence of geothermal resources and their utilization can be important factors in

creating a sense of place. The Earths geothermal heat content is enormous, 99% of the earths

volume has temperatures greater than 1000C, and only 0.1% of the volume is at temperatures less

than 100C (Rybach 2007, 2). Society is just beginning to tap the immense potential of the Earths

heat to meet some of its energy needs. Sustainable use of geothermal resources requires finding

the appropriate level of production for the resources being tapped, which in turn is dependent on

the field size, natural recharge rate, and other characteristics. There are potential negative impacts:

perhaps the most critical is the potential harm to aquatic environments if effluent is discharged into

surface water bodies. Most negative impacts can be minimized by the reinjection of geothermal

fluids back into the reservoir. Geothermal energy is both renewable and one of the cleanest sources

of energy and its use has the potential to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by displacing

fossil fuels.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Figure 1 Geothermal Power Plant