Electrical Power Source: Geothermal As Renewable Energy

Electrical Power Source : Geothermal as Renewable Energy
2011
Introduction
1.1
Definition
Geothermal energy us a third method of green generation. The term geothermal is a composition of two Greek words : geo means earth and therm means heat and when we combined this two words together, we get geothermal means heat generated from earth .
Geothermal is produced by using heat below the earths surface. This heat came from the earths core 4000 miles below the surface , where temperatures can reach up to 9000 0F. the heat from which conducts outward from the center and heats up the outer layers of rock referred to as the material. When the mantels melts and it comes out from the crust and it is called as magma.
Although most geothermal basins are deeply rooted underground and they occasionally but burst forth in the form of hot springs, geysers, volcanoes, and fumaroles. Other than that, it 1|Page
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may emerge from the other source such as from continental plate frictions and the decay or naturally occurring radioactive substances within the crust.
Rain water seepage through geolosic cracks and faults becomes superheated and emerges as geysers and hot springs. Sometimes water is trapped in underground voids, which become geothermal reservoirs. Geothermal energy as a technology involves the production of electrical energy by using the hot-water reservoirs just described.
The hot water is brought to surface as a steam after we drilled a well as deep as 2 miles that will reach the geothermal reservoirs and the steam was heated up to 250oF , and it will used to drive electric generator turbines. In some areas, the water is not enough to become steam. This hot water thus is circulated through commercial, industrial and residential projecst for space-heating ang drying process.
1.2
Reservoirs
Geothermal resources in general are manifested in a wide variety of forms, some of which include hot-water reservoirs , which exothermally heated underground water reservoirs which manifest as ground steam.
First, geopressurized reservoirs that consist of underground slated water ( brine) that is extremely pressure saturated with natural gas , resulting from the weight of the overlaying land mass.
The second one is geothermal gradient. These are drilled shafts that allow access dry, hot cracks for heat-energy extraction. In general, the thermal gradient , or temperature rise, for every kilometer of drilled depth is 30oC and holes drilled to 20.000 feet therefore it will reach a temperature of 190oC , which provides the potential for enormous commercial energy extraction.
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The third one is molten magma that produce as a result of volcanic activity and has a temperature of 2000oC, which is not suitable for thermal power extraction. Geothermal resources have the potential to provide a tremendous amount of enery, up to 50,000 times more energy than all the earths oil and gas resources combined. ( Berinstein 2001 )
1.3
Power Plants
There are various ways to extract this geothermal energy. The simplest way is to drill into geothermal reservoirs in order to bring the heat source ( steam or hot water ) to the surface. Geothermal heat pumps are necessary for residential use, and for commercial use, power plants are built on the surface to convert geothermal energy into electricity.
These are three main types of power plants that we usually heard. The first one is Dry Steam Plants ( DSP ). This type of power plant are the most widely used geothermal energy power plant today. It must be located near accessible steam reservoirs, where the steam is tapped and piped directly to the plant in order to the power the generators turbines.
Picture 1 : Dry Steam Plants ( DSP ) 3|Page
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The second one is Flash Steam Plants ( FSP ). This type of plants converts high pressure hot water into steam, which powers the generators turbines. Their efficiency is 50 percent lower than dry steam plant ( DSP ) because of energy losses during the water to steam conversion ( Berinstein 2001 ). However, the condensed water can be recycled and reused.
Picture 2 : Flash Steam Plants ( FSP )
The next type of power plant is Binary Power Plant ( BPP ). This power plant are complex versions of flash steam plants and are especially useful in that they allow cooler geothermal reservoirs to be tapped. The cooler reservoirs water is pumped into heat exchanger and then back down into reservoir. Then another liquid with a lower boiling point is rapidly pumped in. The heat is sufficient to vaporize the second liquid, and the steam that is produced powers the turbines. As in Flash Steam Plants ( FSP ), the second liquid is condensed and reused.
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Picture 3 : Binary Power Plant ( BPP )
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THE IMPACTS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
2.1
Impact on the environment Geothermal energy is energy from the depths of the earth, which is exploited after exploration,
drilling, construction and operation. The latter three stages, namely drilling, construction and operation, have chemical environmental impacts.
2.1.1
Oil Spillage Drilling mud (betonies clay) is inert and this may not pose great risk to environment. However, it
can smoothen leaves of plants and hence pollutes like oil. Where drilling mud lies, no plant can grow because it seals off air pathways to soil, thus there is no aeration of soil. 6|Page
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Drilling soap (alkyl benzene sulphonate) and detergents containing phosphate may pose a problem to the environment. Alkyl benzene sulphonate detergent may not be dangerous to the environment, since it forms foam with hard water. This may also create environmental pressure for water. Therefore, before drilling starts, estimates of water required should be calculated to avoid the problems.
2.1.2
Sewage disposal Where drilling is going on, people are bound to stay in one place for some time. Facilities such as
pit latrines and portable toilets are necessary within the vicinity of drilling site. Proper sewage disposal measures should be done to avoid sewage pollution. Most of the polluting nutrients enter watercourses through effluents from sewage treatment works, untreated sewage or from farming activities.
2.1.3
Solid Waste Drilling operations uses a lot of materials. Some will be broken and hence they have to be
replaced. The solid wastes may include metals, asbestos insulators, plastics and rocks. All solid wastes from drilling operations must be disposed safely. Some solid wastes are hazardous to environment, like asbestos can cause cancer.
2.2
Impacts of Construction on the Environment
Construction of a steam-gathering system and power plant involves more than just erecting pipes and buildings. The production wells must be drilled and tested, drainage of wastewater must be completed, permanent offices and storage facilities built, access roads made, and finally erection of power plant made.
Although the drilling process may already cause damage, the construction procedure to assemble the huge equipment that will be used to generate power has a more adverse environmental effect. Since the areas where much steam occurs are normally situated in remote and rugged places, a road may need to be built in order to bring the needed machinery. Several professionals take part in the 7|Page
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process and environmental consultants are often hired to obtain the necessary permits for such a major project.
Perhaps the only environmental problem that can occur when installing geothermal heating or power system is the digging up of your lawn when pipes are being buried underground. This type of home heating project usually involves closed loop systems that need to be installed underneath the soil. Construction of the power plants can adversely affect land stability in the surrounding region. This is mainly a concern with Enhanced Geothermal Systems, where water is injected into hot dry rock where no water was before. Dry steam and flash steam power plants also emit low levels of carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, and sulphur, although at roughly 5% of the levels emitted by fossil fuel power plants. However, geothermal plants can be built with emissions-controlling systems that can inject these substances back into the earth, thereby reducing carbon emissions to less than 0.1% of those from fossil fuel power plants. Hot water from geothermal sources will contain trace amounts of dangerous elements such as mercury, arsenic, and antimony which, if disposed of into rivers, can render their water unsafe to drink. Construction of buildings, pipeline and other related facilities involves excavation of land. Largescale remolding of soil has significant environmental impacts. Removal of vegetation and creation of large flat areas increases the susceptibility of soil particles to wind erosion, which act as airborne dust. Airborne dust will come with airborne transmitted diseases.
Large volumes of water are required during construction. This water may be obtained from the nearby lake or groundwater. The pressure for water may cause a shortage hence disturbing the environment. Disposal of domestic and industrial liquid and solid wastes used during construction may create environmental problems. These wastes may include lubricants, soaps, scrap metals, liquid and solid organic products. Their disposal may have an environmental impact on air and water. Some of the organic paints can pollute the air, especially oil emulsion type.
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2.3
Impacts of Operation on the Environment Operating a steam gathering geothermal system can produce large volumes of waste water and
occasionally steam may be vented to the atmosphere when a turbine is over loaded or tripped, or repairs on pipes leading to power station. The well may not be shut for such a short time and instead the steam is released into the atmosphere.
Environmental effects associated with discharge of geothermal brine depend on the method of disposal. If the discharge is to the surface environment, the resulting pollution of fresh water depends upon the dilution capacity of the receiving water. If the discharge is to a shallow aquifer, (either through shallow re-injection or infiltration ponds), pollution impacts depend upon other uses of the aquifer, percolation rate into and groundwater movement within the aquifer, and the association between the aquifer and surroundings surface water. The most acceptable form of fluid disposal is by deep reinjection, although this may have environmental impact such as increase in micro-seismic activity.
The most immediate environmental concern associated with operating geothermal plants is the discharge of large volumes of hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide. Other gases include hydrogen, methane, nitrogen and oxygen.
A Geothermal reservoir gets recharged by groundwater, which may be connected to a nearby lake. Operating the geothermal power station has therefore introduced competition with other users of freshwater resource. Potable water supply is required for the staff. In addition, raw water for staff ablution facilities and irrigating the grounds, and make-up water for cooling towers is required.
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Picture 4 : Geothermal power plant release of hydrogen sulfide, a gas that smells like rotten egg at low concentrations
Picture 5 : Wairakei Geothermal Power Development Project, New Zealand 10 | P a g e
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Picture 6 : Construction of pipelines involved excavation of land
Picture 7 : Hot water from geothermal contain arsenic and mercury 11 | P a g e
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Geothermal System Types
3.1
Vertical Closed Loop
Both vertical and horizontal loops extract the Earths natural heat and reject it back. Vertical loops (shown) are installed by drilling vertical bore holes several hundred feet into the earth and inserting a plastic polyethylene supply/ return pipe into the holes. At these depths, the undisturbed ground temperature does not change throughout the year. Vertical loops only require approximately 250 to 300 ft of surface area per ton of cooling.
Picture 8 : Vertical Closed Loop
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3.2
Horizontal Closed Loop
Horizontal loops extract the Earths natural heat and reject it back. Horizontal loops are installed in trenches approximately 5 feet below the ground surface. The undisturbed ground temperature often changes seasonally depending upon where the loops are installed. Horizontal loops are easier to install, but require significantly more area (approximately 2500 ft/ of surface area per ton of cooling).
Picture 9 : Horizontal Closed Loop
3.3
Surface Water or Lake Loop
A "Surface Water" or "Lake" closed loop system is a geothermal loop that is directly installed in a lake or body of water that is near the building. In many cases, the body of water is constructed on the building site to meet run-off or aesthetic requirements. The size and the depth of the lake is critical, and commercial design services should be used to certify that a given body of water is sufficient to withstand the building loads.
Picture 10 : Surface Water or Lake Loop 13 | P a g e
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3.4
Open Loop "Well Water"
"Open Loop" well water systems use ground water to remove or add heat to the interior water loop. The key benefit of an open loop system is the constant water temperature, usually 50F to 60F, which provides efficient operation at a low first cost. Open Loop applications are commonly used in coastal areas where soil characteristics allow reinjection wells to return the water back to the aquifer. Reinjection wells must be approved by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and local building codes.
Picture 11 : Open Loop "Well Water"
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Geothermal Advantages & Disadvantages
4.1
Geothermal Advantages & Disadvantages Geothermal heat pumps have several advantages and disadvantages. Which geothermal system
is right for a given installation, or even whether to use a geothermal system, depends on the circumstances of that particular installation. 4.1.1 Advantages Geothermal energy neither produces any pollution, nor does it add to the greenhouse effect. Besides, it does not need any fuel. Geothermal energy impacts soil very minimally since the cooler water is re-injected into the ground. In both commercial and residential installations, geothermal heat pump systems typically have lower maintenance costs than conventional systems as all equipment is installed inside the building or underground. This means that there is no outside equipment exposed to weather and vandalism. All refrigerant systems are sealed, similar to household refrigerators. 15 | P a g e
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Geothermal systems are very flexible. They can be easily and inexpensively subdivided or expanded to fit building remodeling or additions. They are particularly well-suited to "tenant finish" installations.
In commercial installations, systems can save money by recovering excess heat from building interior zones and moving it to the perimeter of the building. They can also save money by allowing management to isolate and shut down unoccupied areas of the building.
Refrigerant Loop geothermal systems have several advantages over other geothermal systems. They are potentially more efficient than water loop systems. They require fewer feet of buried piping than other geothermal system, have no freeze problems, and better heat transfer.
Geothermal energy is that the power plants do not have to be huge which is great for protecting the natural environment and it is a globally sustainable energy source. Being the renewable source of energy, geothermal energy has helped in reducing global warming and pollution. Moreover, Geothermal systems does not create any pollution as it releases some gases from deep within the earth which are not very harmful to the environment
Conserves and diversifies sources with conserves fossil fuels, still required in some applications, and contributes to diversity of energy sources. Dependence on fossil fuels decreases with the increase in the use of geothermal energy. With the sky-rocketing prices of oil, many countries are pushing companies to adopt these clean sources of energy.
Geothermal energy on the other hand has created many jobs for the local people.
4.1.2
Disadvantages Geothermal systems tend to have a somewhat higher first cost than conventional systems. Open-loop systems have more potential problems than either conventional systems or closedloop geothermal systems because they bring outside water into the unit. This can lead to clogging, mineral deposits, and corrosion in the system.
Unfortunately, there arent many places where you can set up a geothermal power station. Besides, hot rocks of a certain kind are needed that can go down a particular depth where they can be drilled. The earth may also throw up certain hazardous gases and minerals from underground that are difficult to dispose of.
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Open-loop systems require a large supply of clean water in order to be cost effective. This often limits their use to coastal areas, and areas adjacent to lakes, rivers, streams, etc. In addition, there must be an acceptable method of returning the used water to the environment. This may be limited not only by environmental factors (such as no place to dump that much water), but also by local and state regulations.
Many closed-loop systems use an antifreeze solution to keep the loop water from freezing in cold temperature conditions. Most antifreeze solutions have very low toxicity, but many produce CFCs and HCFCs, which add to environmental concerns. In addition, some antifreeze solutions increase fluid viscosity making the system work harder and adding to the cost of pumping.
Refrigerant Loop systems have several disadvantages, including environmental issues related to the system's use of refrigerant, Corrosion issues since they use copper piping which needs anodic protection, and the need to maintain refrigerant temperatures within certain limits to keep from freezing or baking the ground, Difficulty in finding and fixing a refrigerant loop leak, should one occur.
Since accessibility to terminal units is important in geothermal systems, architects and mechanical and structural designers must carefully coordinate their work. Geothermal sites can run out of steam over a period of time due to drop in temperature or if too much water is injected to cool the rocks and this may result huge loss for the companies which have invested heavily in these plants.
Geothermal sites may contain some poisonous gases and they can escape deep within the earth, through the holes drilled by the constructors. It is only suitable for regions where temperature below the earth are quite low and can produce steam over a long period of time. For this great research is required which is done by the companies before setting up the plant.
Each unit requires both electrical and plumbing service. Duct systems must be installed to bring outside air to each space. Secondary or backup heat sources are required in cooler climates.
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Conclusion
5.0
Conclusion
Geothermal power like other types of renewable-energy resources maintains benefits in the geographic location of installation by providing local jobs and contributing royalties and taxes to the country.
There are many benefits of geothermal power like provides clean and safe energy using little land space, sustainable and renewable so that we can cut our cost n became more economical. Other than that this geothermal generates continuous as reliable power and it can reduces energy imports. The power plants are modular and can be increased in potential incrementally.
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This renewable energy can be used directly. First example is balneology where we can use hot springs for bathing and can treat skin diseases. While in agriculture, we can use for green house and soil warming and this can save our world.
Geothermal energy is essentially best suited for a large, centralized chiller or boiler systems. Some of the challenges associated with this technology are like installation of a geothermal plant for a heat-conegeneration process . Then, deep penetration-type geothermal energy technologies typically are installed in special geographic locations. As a result,
geothermal energy is not considered as a suitable alternative renewable energy option for the school campus.
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