GEOTHERMAL ENERGY INTRODUCTION

By J. Vivek M.E. Solar Energy

CONTENTS
What is geothermal energy Geothermal reservoir How it is used i. Direct use ii. Power production iii. Heat pumps Advantages and disadvantages

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Geothermal energy is defined as, getting heat energy from the earth. It is consider as one of the renewable energy because the heat is flow from the interior of the earth continuously.

EARTH TEMPERATURE GRADIENT

GEOTHERMAL RESERVOIR
The heat from the Earths core continuously flows outward and heat the outer layer of the rock called mantle. When it come to molten state then it is called magma. Magma can reach just below the earth surface. Rain water sometimes go down through the geological fault lines or crack and it is super heated by magma, then hot water reservoir is formed. It is known as geothermal reservoir.
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USES
Geothermal direct use Geothermal electricity production Geothermal heat pumps.

GEOTHERMAL DIRECT USE

Direct use is suitable for low temperature applications(200 to 1500C). Hot water from geothermal resources can be used for a number of purposes. In modern direct-use systems, a well is drilled into a geothermal reservoir to provide a steady stream of hot water.

DIRECT USE APPLICATIONS

Drying crops Industrial processes, such as pasteurizing milk, the drying of vegetable and fruit products Spas

Geothermal power production

There are three commercial types of
geothermal power plants.

Flash power plants Dry steam power plants Binary power plants

Flash power plants

Steam with water is extracted from the geothermal reservoir Heated water under high pressure is separated in a surface vessel (called a steam separator) into steam and hot water. The steam is delivered to the turbine, and the turbine powers a generator. The liquid is injected back into the reservoir

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Flash Power Plant

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DRY STEAM POWER PLANTS

Dry steam is extracted directly from the geothermal reservoir.(1800 2200C) Steam is used to run the turbines that power the generator, and no separation is necessary because wells only produce steam.

Steam

is condensed and pumped back into the ground

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Dry Steam Power Plant

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BINARY POWER PLANTS

Low temperature rang 100 1500C Use low boiling fluids like iso butane and iso pentane.

Hot water from the reservoir heat the working fluid and it will vaporized.

This vapor is used to run the turbine.

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Binary Power Plant

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HOT DRY ROCK TECHNOLOGY

This technology is used, where rock under earth is have enough heat but there is no water reservoir. Here reservoir is formed manually. Water supply in to hot rocks and steam is produced. Then it is extracted through pipe and used for required applications.

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GEOTHERMAL HEAT PUMPS

The upper 10 feet of the Earth, maintains a nearly constant temperature between 50 and 60F (10-16C). This ground temperature is warmer than the air above it in the winter and cooler than the air in the summer. Geothermal heat pumps take advantage of this resource to heat and cool buildings.
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ADVANTAGES
Low emission Low running cost Less area is required Renewable Power can produce continuously.

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Disadvantages
Limited capacity Installation cost is high Limited location Requires careful selection of materials.

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