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)
 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 H20 (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.
 The Geothermal Heat
Pump
Most Basic Form of Geothermal Usage
What takes advantage of stored heat of near
surface soil / water (Const. temp of 55-75 F)
Winter Months uses ground as a heat source
Transfers heat from warm subsurface to
facility
Summer Months uses ground as a heat sink
Transfers heat from facility to ground
 Heat Pump Components
3 Main Parts:
Underground Piping
Pump / Heat Exchanger
System
Indoor Distribution
System
System
Concentrates
Natural Heat Instead
of Production of
Heat by Combustion
 Underground Piping Configurations

Vertical Installation:
150-500 ft. U-
shaped pipe
Horizontal Inst.:
1000 ft. pipe
buried at 4-8 feet
below grade
 Heat Pump Uses

Predominantly Space Heating / Cooling

Currently Over 300,000 buildings in U.S.
Homes, Schools, Commercial Complexes,
and Industrial Facilities
Water Heating for Hot Water
Desuperheaters uses heat from heat
pumps compressor to heat facilitys hot
water
Second Heat Exchanger dedicated to
hot water
 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
 Benefits of Geothermal Power
Contd

As Opposed to Burning Fossil Fuels,

Current Geothermal Use Prevents
the Yearly Emission of:1
22 MM tons of CO2
200k tons of SO2
80k tons of NOx
110k tons of Particulates
 Benefits of Geothermal Power
Contd
Another Aspect of
Resource Reliability
Old Faithful in
Yellowstone National
Park
Plants Have Been In
Use in Italy Since
1913, New Zealand
Since 1958 and in CA
Since 1960
 Conclusion
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 India.
Energy Consumption for Space Heating and
Cooling Could Also Change Dramatically