Penn State scientists propose a method to boost geothermal energy efficiency by controlling water flow with temperature-reactive materials, potentially increasing heat extraction by over 65% in 50 years. Geothermal heat is a promising renewable energy source with nearly zero emissions. However, d
Scientists have proposed a technique to enhance the efficiency of geothermal power plants by preventing “short-circuits.” The method involves adding specific materials or chemicals to the water injected into the rock fractures, which react to temperature changes to control the flow of water. Modeling suggests that this technique could increase heat extraction by over 65% in 50 years, making geothermal energy more competitive and environmentally friendly.
However, wide fractures may allow large volumes of water to move too quickly to sufficiently heat up before reaching the production wells. Cooler production liquid impacts the efficiency of the power plant and can compromise the economics of the project, the scientists said. Producers try to prevent these shortcuts before they form by adjusting how much water circulates through the system or potentially shutting down production periodically, the scientists said. This means the plant cannot produce continuously, which would be a major benefit of geothermal heat over other sources of renewable energy like solar and wind.
“These findings confirm significant improvements in energy that can be harvested by using this technique,” said co-author Qitao Zhang, a doctoral candidate in the John and Willie Leone Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering and co-author on the paper. “We are proposing an effective approach by controlling the flow deep inside the reservoir.”
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