GEOTHERMAL POWER GENERATING TECHNOLOGY

(NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCE)

Document By
SANTOSH BHARADWAJ REDDY
Email: help@matlabcodes.com
Engineeringpapers.blogspot.com
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ABSTRACT

As the second-largest country of the world, undergoing explosive growth, India

represents a unique and little-tapped source of expertise on multifarious issues of
economic and social development. Among many other problems of concern, the
development of alternative sources of energy is crucial to the future wellbeing of India –
indeed, of the globe. The increasing demand of the energy has forced the mankind to find
a way out which will be efficiently and abundantly available source of energy. This made
the human race to think of the beneficiaries of non-conventional energy development in
India. Today one of the latest trends of non-conventional energy development to be
implemented in our country is “GEOTHERMAL POWER GENERATING
TECHNOLOGY”.
Geothermal energy is a proven resource for direct heat and power generation. In
over 30 countries geothermal resources provide directly used heat capacity of 12,000
MW and electric power generation capacity of over 8,000 MW. It meets a significant
portion of the electrical power demand in several developing countries. Individual
geothermal power plants can be as small as 100 kW or as large as 100 MW depending on
the energy resource and power demand. Geothermal basically means “earth’s heat”,
which is used to produce power.
 The Geothermal energy will avail a greater advantage of producing power from
the non-conventional source. In this method there are more of advantages as compared to
other non-conventional sources of energy generation. Geothermal energy will be dearer
to the human race as it clean, reliable, flexible and economical form of energy used for
industries, commercial users, greenhouses, aquaculture and many more applications. Use
of this form of energy can greatly minimize the impact, resulting in environmental
benefits for many states and local communities with growing energy needs; also the use
of geothermal energy keeps our environment clean.

CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION

• GEOTHERMAL POWER GENERATION PLANTS

• HOW GEOTHERMAL HEAT GET UPTO EARTH’S SURFACE

• USE OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

• APPLICATIONS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

• IMPACTS OF GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGY

 • BENEFITS

• CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
The term geothermal comes from the Greek geo meaning earth and therein
meaning heat thus geothermal energy is energy derived from the natural heat of the earth.
The earth's temperature varies widely, and geothermal energy is usable for a wide range
of temperatures from room temperature to well over 300° F. For commercial use, a
geothermal reservoir capable of providing hydrothermal (hot water and steam) resources
is necessary. Geothermal reservoirs are generally classified as being either low
temperature (<150° C) or high temperature (>150° C). Generally speaking, the high
temperature reservoirs are the ones suitable for, and sought out for commercial
production of electricity. Geothermal reservoirs are found in "geothermal systems" which
are regionally localized geologic settings where the earth's naturally occurring heat flow
is near enough to the earth’s surface to bring steam or hot water to the surface.

GEOTHERMAL POWER GENERATION PLANTS:

There are three types of geothermal power generation plants:

• DRY STEAM POWER PLANT

• FLASH STEAM POWER PLANT

• BINARY CYCLE POWER PLANT

DRY STEAM POWER PLANT:

Steam plants use hydrothermal fluids that are primarily steam. The steam goes
directly to a turbine, which drives a generator that produces electricity. The steam
eliminates the need to burn fossil fuels to run the turbine. (Also eliminating the need to
transport and store fuels!) This is the oldest type of geothermal power plant. It was first
used at Lardarello in Italy in 1904, and is still very effective. These plants emit on excess
steam and very minor amounts of gases.

FLASH STEAM POWER PLANTS:

Hydrothermal fluids above 360ºF (182ºC) can be used in flash plants to make
electricity. Fluid is sprayed into a tank held at a much lower pressure than the fluid,
causing some of the fluid to rapidly vaporize, or "flash." The vapor then drives a turbine,
which drives a generator. If any liquid remains in the tank, it can be flashed again in a
second tank to extract even more energy.

BINARY CYCLE POWER PLANTS:

Most geothermal areas contain moderate-temperature water (below 400 degrees F).
Energy is extracted from these fluids in binary-cycle power plants. Hot geothermal fluid
and a secondary (hence, "binary") fluid with a much lower boiling point than water pass
through a heat exchanger. Heat from the geothermal fluid causes the secondary fluid to
flash to vapor, which then drives the turbines. Because this is a closed-loop system,
virtually nothing is emitted to the atmosphere. Moderate-temperature water is by far the
more common geothermal resource, and most geothermal power plants in the future will
be binary-cycle plants.
HOW GEOTHERMAL HEAT GET UP TO EARTH'S SURFACE

The heat from the earth's core continuously flows outward. It transfers (conducts) to the
surrounding layer of rock, the mantle. When temperatures and pressures become high
enough, some mantle rock melts, becoming magma. Then, because it is lighter (less
dense) than the surrounding rock, the magma rises (convects), moving slowly up toward
the earth's crust, carrying the heat from below.

Sometimes the hot magma reaches all the way to the surface, where we know it as lava.
But most often the magma remains below earth's crust, heating nearby rock and water
(rainwater that has seeped deep into the earth) - sometimes as hot as 700 degrees F. Some
of this hot geothermal water travels back up through faults and cracks and reaches the
earth's surface as hot springs or geysers, but most of it stays deep underground, trapped in
cracks and porous rock. This natural collection of hot water is called a geothermal
reservoir.

THE FUTURE OF GEOTHERMAL ELECTRICITY:

Steam and hot water reservoirs are just a small part of the geothermal resource.
The Earth's magma and hot dry rock will provide cheap, clean, and almost unlimited
energy as soon as we develop the technology to use them. In the meantime, because
they're so abundant, moderate-temperature sites running binary-cycle power plants will
be the most common electricity producers.

USE OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY AND RESOURCES:

Direct Use of Geothermal Energy

Geothermal reservoirs of low-to moderate-temperature water – 68ºF to 302ºF (20ºC to

150ºC) – provide direct heat for residential, industrial, and commercial uses. This
resource is widespread in the U.S., and is used to heat homes and offices, commercial
greenhouses, fish farms, food processing facilities, gold mining operations, and a
variety of other applications. Spent fluids from geothermal electric plants can be
subsequently used for direct use applications in so-called "cascaded" operation.

Direct use of geothermal energy in homes and commercial operations is much less
expensive than using traditional fuels. Savings can be as much as 80% over fossil fuels.
Direct use is also very clean, producing only a small percentage (and in many cases none)
of the air pollutants emitted by burning fossil fuels.

The Direct–Use Resource

In India the Geothermal is also applicable and many surveys are being conducted
to analyze the geothermal resources in many parts of northern India.

According to survey conducted in U.S low–temperature geothermal resources exist

throughout the western U.S., and there is tremendous potential for new direct–use
applications. A recent survey of 10 western states identified more than 9000 thermal
wells and springs, more than 900 low– to moderate–temperature geothermal resource
areas, and hundreds of direct–use sites.
The survey also identified 271 collocated sites – cities within 5 miles (8 kilometers) of a
resource hotter than 122 degrees F (50 degrees C) – that have excellent potential for
near–term direct use. If these collocated resources were used only to heat buildings, the
cities have the potential to displace 18 million barrels of oil per year!

Tapping the Resource

Direct–use systems typically include three components:

• A production facility – usually a well – to bring the hot water to the surface;

• A mechanical system – piping, heat exchanger, controls – to deliver the heat to

the space or process; and

• A disposal system – injection well or storage pond – to receive the cooled

geothermal fluid.

• A disposal system – injection well or storage pond – to receive the cooled

geothermal fluid.

Greenhouse and Aquaculture Facilities

Greenhouses and aquaculture (fish farming) are the two primary uses of geothermal
energy in the agribusiness industry. Most greenhouse operators estimate that using
geothermal resources instead of traditional energy sources saves about 80% of fuel costs
– about 5% to 8% of total operating costs. The relatively rural location of most
geothermal resources also offers advantages, including clean air, few disease problems,
clean water, a stable workforce, and, often, low taxes.

Industrial and Commercial Uses

Industrial applications include food dehydration, laundries, gold mining, milk
pasteurizing, spas, and others. Dehydration, or the drying of vegetable and fruit products,
is the most common industrial use of geothermal energy. The earliest commercial use of
geothermal energy was for swimming pools.

APPLICATIONS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY:

The three main applications of Geothermal Energy
PowerPlants
Power plant technologies are being used to convert hydrothermal fluids to electricity. The
type of conversion used depends on the state of the fluid (whether steam or water) and its
temperature.
DirectUse
Geothermal reservoirs of low-to moderate-temperature water — 68°F to 302°F (20°C to
150°C) — provide direct heat for residential, industrial, and commercial uses. This
resource is widespread in the U.S., and is used to heat homes and offices, commercial
greenhouses, fish farms, food processing facilities, gold mining operations, and a variety
of other applications.
GeothermalHeatPumps
The geothermal heat pump, also known as the ground source heat pump, is a highly
efficient renewable energy technology that is gaining wide acceptance for both residential
and commercial buildings. Geothermal heat pumps are used for space heating and
cooling, as well as water heating. Its great advantage is that it works by concentrating
naturally existing heat, rather than by producing heat through combustion of fossil fuels.

IMPACTS OF GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGY:

All energy development and production impacts the environment to some degree.
But the use of geothermal energy can greatly minimize these impacts, resulting in
environmental benefits for many states and local communities with growing energy
needs. The use of geothermal energy helps keep our air and water clean. The use of
geothermal energy also greatly minimizes the amount of resulting solid waste and land

required for energy production. When local communities use geothermal

power plants, they can easily:

 Meet clean air standards

 Minimize solid waste and recover/recycle minerals

 Meet water quality and conservation standards

 Minimize land use and impact.

BENEFITS:

• Clean. Geothermal power plants, like wind and solar power plants, do not have to
burn fuels to manufacture steam to turn the turbines. Generating electricity with
geothermal energy helps to conserve nonrenewable fossil fuels, and by decreasing
the use of these fuels, we reduce emissions that harm our atmosphere. There is no
smoky air around geothermal power plants -- in fact some are built in the middle
of farm crops and forests, and share land with cattle and local wildlife.

• Easy on the land. The land area required for geothermal power plants is smaller
per megawatt than for almost every other type of power plant. Geothermal
installations don't require damming of rivers or harvesting of forests -- and there
are no mine shafts, tunnels, open pits, waste heaps or oil spills.

• Reliable. Geothermal power plants are designed to run 24 hours a day, all year. A
geothermal power plant sits right on top of its fuel source. It is resistant to
interruptions of power generation due to weather, natural disasters or political rifts
that can interrupt transportation of fuels.
• Flexible. Geothermal power plants can have modular designs, with additional
units installed in increments when needed to fit growing demand for electricity.

• Helps Developing Countries Grow. Geothermal projects can offer all of the above
benefits to help developing countries grow without pollution. And installations in
remote locations can raise the standard of living and quality of life by bringing
electricity to people far from "electrified" population centers.

CONCLUSION:

So from the above presented information it has been clear that

“GEOTHERMAL POWER GENERATING TECHNOLOGY” is a latest & good
form of non conventional energy which will be a substitute to the conventionally
produced energy. In this modern technological sphere of life the geothermal energy
would become the best and abundantly available form of energy.

By this method the energy is produced with very less amount of

environmental pollution in a more efficient way. The energy produced here can be
used for a numerous applications. It also provides employment to a huge number of
people. So with the benefits of this geothermal technology this form of energy can
provide power to a considerable amount of loads
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for sustainable development , organized by Australian CRC for Renewable
Energy and Murdoch University ,Australia,1999.
• The Hindu ,1998.Survey of Indian Industry.Hindu publications ,Banglore.
Renewable energy :Power for sustainable future ,(Ed) Godfrey Boyle, Oxford
University Press,1996.
• Bakthavatsalam V., Indian renewable energy –A perspective, energy scenario
Vol. II, Issue I, Oct-Dec 1998.
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overview, Energy management: 4, Quarterly journal of National Productivity
council 23-40, 1996.
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• http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/paper/ires/solarenergy.html

Document By
SANTOSH BHARADWAJ REDDY
Email: help@matlabcodes.com
Engineeringpapers.blogspot.com
More Papers and Presentations available on above site