GEOTHERMAL ENERGY:

presented by- Arpit gupta

What is Geothermal Energy?
Geo (Greek for earth)
Thermal (heat)
Temp. of Shallow
Crust (upper 10 ft.)
Constant 55-75F
(13-24C)
Up to 14,400F
(8,000C) at Molten
Core (approx. 4,000
mi. to center of core)
What is Geothermal Energy Contd?
Earths Crust Thickness: 3 to 35 Mi.
Temperature Increases With Depth
Gradient: 50-87F / Mile (17-30C / km)
Basic Geothermal Systems Take
Advantage of:
Heat Differential Between Ground and
Indoor Air Temperatures Heat Pump
Earth as a Natural Heat Source Power
Plants

Types of Geothermal Resources?
Geothermal Sources are Classified Based on:
(1) Temperature, (2) Physical State of H
2
0 (i.e.
water or steam), and (3) Type of Energy Usage
Primary Classification is Resource Temperature:
Low Temperature Reservoir: 50-200 F (10-
94 C)
High Temperature Reservoir: >200 F

Basic Types of Geothermal Reservoirs
3 General Classes of Geothermal Uses
Ground Source Heat Pump
Direct Source
Commercial Electricity Generation: Power
Plants
Need High Capacity Geothermal
Reservoir; Generally Water / Steam
>200F
Types of Reservoirs Contd
Low Temperature Reservoirs:
Available almost anywhere on earth
Predominantly Used for Heat Pumps
Space Heating
Other Common Uses:
Hot Water Production
Piped Under Roads / Sidewalks (Klamath
Falls, Oregon)
In Greenhouses to Grow Flowers, etc.
Industrial Uses: dry wood, pasteurize milk,
grow fish, etc.
Types of Reservoirs Contd
High Temperature Reservoirs:
Availability:
Can Occur Within a Couple of Miles of
Earths Surface Where Earths Crust Is Very
Thin i.e., Closer to Molten Magma at Core
Suitable for Commercial Production of
Electricity
Power Plants Need High Capacity
Geothermal Reservoir Water / Steam
>220F (105C)
Greatest Potential for Energy Output


TYPES OF GEOTHERMAL POWER
PLANTS
Different Types of Plants are Required
to Take Advantage of the Particular
Characteristics of Each Specific
Geothermal Site
Main Types of Geothermal Power
Plants:
Dry Steam
Flash Steam
Binary Cycle
Dry Steam Geothermal Plants
Uses Steam From
Geothermal Reservoir
Directly
Only Requires
Removal of Rock
Fragments From
Steam Prior to
Entering Turbines
Only Emissions Are
Water Vapor
Dry Steam Geothermal Plants Contd
The Geysers in CA
Opened in 1960
After 30 yrs. temp.
remains constant;
pressure drop from 3.3
to 2.3 MPa near wells
Output2700 MW;
enough for San
Francisco (pop.
780,000)
1

Flash Steam Geothermal Power Plants
Injection of Deep, High-
pressure Water Into
Low-pressure Tanks;
Water Flashes to
Steam Used to Drive
Turbines
Excess Water
Returned to Maintain
Pressure in Reservoir
Flash Steam Plants Contd
Steamboat Springs,
NV Plant
Initial Conditions
Liquid H
2
O @
240C, Pressures of
24 MPa (hydrostatic
pressure)
Binary Cycle Geothermal Power Plants
Moderately Hot Water
(<175 C) Passed
Through Heat
Exchanger
Heat Transferred to
Secondary Fluid (Low
B.P. Fluids (i.e.,
Propane or Isobutane)
Which Is Vaporized
(Flashed)
Binary Cycle Plants Contd
Higher Capital Cost
Needs High
Efficiency Equip.
Water Never Contacts
Turbine/generator Units
Water Returned
Directly to Reservoir
No Plant Emissions!
Benefits of Geothermal Power
Generation
Little to No Pollution
Flash Plants Emit Only Excess Steam
Binary Plants Have No Air or Liquid
Emissions!
Expected to Be Dominant Type in Future
Lake County Home of The Geysers
Geothermal Plants is One of the Only
Counties to Meet CAs Stringent Air Quality
Standards.
Benefits of Geothermal Power Contd
Emission of Low
Quantities of
Greenhouse
Gasses
Homegrown
Decreases
Dependency On
Foreign Energy
Conclusion
Short Term (Several Years to a Decade):
Not a Viable Option to Replace 25% Loss in Oil
Imports. At Best, a Valuable Supplement to
Replace a Few % of the Lost Energy.
Some Valuable Side Effects:
Production of Clean Energy
These Policies Are in Concurrence With
Goals of Most Pollution-related Statutes
Less Reliance on Foreign Sources of Energy
Reliable and Renewal Energy Source
Conclusion Contd
Long Term (Likely Decades for Technology to
Provide an Economically Feasible Option):
Biggest Impact in Electrical Generation
Sectors the Potential Exists to Provide All
Energy Requirements in the U.S.
Energy Consumption for Space Heating and
Cooling Could Also Change Dramatically
Thank you