GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Our earth was a burning planet billions of years ago, still earth core temperature is
above 5000C.
Geo means earth and Thermal means heat , Geothermal means earths heat
Geothermal energy is the energy contained as heat in the earths interior.
Geothermal energy is energy extracted from the heat stored in the earth.
Geothermal energy is derived from within the earth's tectonic activity that occurred
since the planet was created. It also comes from solar thermal absorbed by the earth's
surface.
2.0 GEOLOGICAL BACLKGROUND
Earths radius is approximately 6370 km and it can be divided into three zones
Crust (7 km under ocean, 20-65 km under the continent)
Mantle (2900 km , lies under the crust)
Core (center, 4000oC and 3.6 million bars)

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 3.0 CHARACTERISTICS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Geothermal energy is an enormous, underused heat and power resource that is
clean ,reliable and homegrown.
Geothermal resources range from shallow ground to hot water and rock several
miles below the Earth's surface, and even farther down to the extremely hot
molten rock called magma.
Mile-or-more-deep wells can be drilled into underground reservoirs to tap steam
and very hot water that can be brought to the surface for use in a variety of
applications.

The general characteristics of geothermal energy that make it of significant importance for
both electricity production and direct use include:

Extensive global distribution; it is accessible to both developed and developing

countries.
Environmentally friendly nature; it has low emission of sulphur, CO2 and other
greenhouse gases.
Indigenous nature; it is independent of external supply and demand effects and
fluctuations in exchange rates.
Independence of weather and season.
Contribution to the development of diversified power sources

4.0 MAIN COMPONENTS OF GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT

Production Well
Separator
Heat Exchanger
Steam Turbine
Condenser
Generator
Injection Well

4.1 PRODUCTION WELL

Source of steam
Depth 3 km to 10 km
Similar to production well of an oil rig

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 Wells may be located as far as 10 km to 14 km from power plant
Steam can be moist or dry, Moist steam passes through separator
Water or brine is reinjected through injection well

4.2 SEPARATOR
Steam contains non condensable gases including Hydrogen sulphide
Separator are used for the purpose to remove these gases
2 phase and 3 phase separators are used according to requirement
Separators are vertically horizontally designed

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4.3 STEAM TURBINE

Specially designed steam turbine are used for geothermal power plants
Steam can be corrosive due to many non condensable gases e.g. Hydrogen
sulphide
To protect rotor blades and nozzles from corrosion special coatings and materials
are used
The generation and transmission side of geothermal power plants is similar to
conventional power plants

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4.4 CONDENSOR
Steam condensed at a vacuum at the turbine exit
Most plants use direct contact condensers that uses water itself as the cooling
media.

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4.5 INJECTION WELL

The excess condensate and the brine from the separator returns back to the
underground thermal reservoir,
Reinjection wells are located in appropriate places
Some reservoirs can give outputs for years with out reinjection

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5.0 WORKING OF GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT

Large holes have to be dug into the earth until a geothermal hotspot is found.
Pipes are inserted inside these holes through which water is sent and steam output
is obtained.
The production involves two process
1) Converting Geothermal energy into Mechanical energy
2) Converting Mechanical Energy into Electrical Energy
The success of the energy production depends on the temperature of the plant
which depends on the temperature of the rocks in earth.
The water is sent through the injection well and reaches the rocks and then hot
water comes from the production well.
Due to the high pressure when it reaches the topmost of the earth surface it is
converted into steam.
The separator is the place where steam that comes from the earth is made clean by
removing the brine and dirt so that they do not damage the turbine blades.
The high pressure and low pressure steam runs the turbine.
The generator is coupled with turbine to produce electricity.
The condenser is a phase changer where the steam output of the turbine is given
to the condenser and gets converted to hot water.
This hot water is then sent to the cooling tower where it loses it heat and then sent
to the geothermal reservoir for further production of steam.

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6.0 EXTRACTION AND USES

The heat energy can be brought to earth surface by following ways.
o directly from hot springs/ geysers
o geothermal heat pump
Uses are broadly classified as:-
o direct use
o indirect use
6.1 DIRECT USE OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Hot springs, used as spas.
Heating water at fish farms.
Provide heat for buildings.
Raising plants in greenhouses, drying crops.
Provides heat to industrial processes.

6.2 INDIRECT USE OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

There are three different types of Geothermal power plantssystem designs :
Dry Steam Power Plants
Flash / Steam Plants
Binary cycle power plant

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 6.3 DRY STEAM POWER PLANT
A power plant where steam is released from the pressure of a deep reservoir,
through a rock catcher, and then past the power generator turbines.
Dry steam extracted from natural reservoir
o 180-225 C ( 356-437 F)
o 4-8 MPa (580-1160 psi)
Steam is used to drive a turbo-generator
Steam is condensed and pumped back into the ground
Can achieve 1 kWh per 6.5 kg of steam
o A 55 MW plant requires 100 kg/s of steam

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6.4FLASH OR STEAM PLANTS
A power plant where water is pumped under great pressure to the surface.
When it surfaces, the pressure is reduced and as a result some of the water
changes to steam.
This creates a blast of steam. The water is then returned to the earth to be heated
up by geothermal rocks again.
Steam with water extracted from ground
Pressure of mixture drops at surface and more water flashes to steam
Steam separated from water
Steam drives a turbine
Turbine drives an electric generator
Generate between 5 and 100 MW
Use 6 to 9 tones of steam per hour

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6.5BINARY CYCLE POWER PLANT

A power plant where warm geothermal water is pumped to the surface and passed
through a heat exchanger that contains a special fluid that boils the water.
The heat from the water makes this secondary fluid flash into vapor.
The newly created vapor spins the turbines, while the cooled steam is injected
back into the earth.
Low temps 100o and 150oC
Use heat to vaporize organic liquidE.g., iso-butane, iso-pentane
Use vapor to drive turbine and causes vapor to condense.
Recycle continuously
Typically 7 to 12 % efficient

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7.0 ADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
No chance of contamination from solid discharge.
Geothermal fluids contains less harmful greenhouse gases.
No Nitrogen Oxide and Sulfur Dioxide. Less acid rain.
Binary Plants have no Carbon Dioxide, however others have 0.2lb/kW-h.
Available all the year around and it is direct use
Low running cost, it saves 80% costs over fossil fuels.
It is free from global warming as does not involve any combustion of fuel.
Unlike solar energy it is independent of weather condition.
Clean Resource Very little emissions or overall environmental impact.
Maintenance cost of geothermal plants very less
Overall, geothermal energy is a sustainable resource.

8.0 DISADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Not widespread source of energy
High installation costs
Can run out of steam
May release harmful gases, poisonous gases that can escape through the holes
during construction.
Geothermal energy can not be easily transported
Total generation potential of this source is too small.
There is always danger of eruption of volcano.

9.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Low risks of water contamination and low air pollution
Most of the major noise pollutions are during construction only
Seismicity due to EGS operation is minor and not definite.
Requires relatively less land.
Less environmental alterations and adverse effects.
Produces more power per surface acre compared to nuclear and coal.

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10.0 CONCLUSION
Geothermal heating system can replace fossil fuel heating system in a particular
area.
Annual costs for common heating purposes can be reduced by more than 60%.
Continued energy shortages have created added interest in geothermal energy for
power generation.
Potential exists to provide all energy requirements in the U.S
Geothermal energy appears to be a partial solution to our energy needs.

11.0 REFERENCES
Alexander, E.M., 2004. Geothermal Energy Exploration in South Australia.
MESA Journal
GEA, Geothermal Energy: International Market Update, Geothermal Energy
Association
www.slideshare.net
www.renewableresources.com

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