Renewable Sources of Energy

Unit 2 (b): Geothermal Energy

Prepared by
Mr. A. Shanmukh Sudhir,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
GVPCOE[A], Visakhapatnam.

Reference: G.D. Rai, Non-conventional energy sources,

Khanna Publishers, Delhi
L19: Geothermal energy (Geo – earth , Thermal – Heat)
 The hot magma (molten mass) near the surface (A) solidifies
into igneous rock (B).

 Ground water that finds its way down to this rock through
fissures (narrow opening) will be heated by the heat of the
rock.

 The heated water will then rise convectively upward and into
the porous and permeable (allowing liquid to flow) reservoir
(C).

 The reservoir is capped by a layer of impermeable solid rock

(D) that traps the hot water in the reservoir. The solid rock has
fissures (E) that’s acts as vents of underground boiler.

 The vents show up at the surface as geysers fumarols (F) or

hot springs (G). A well (H) taps steam from the fissures for
use in a geothermal power.
L19: Geothermal sites in India
Geothermal provinces across the country
Reference: Shibani K. Jha, Harish Puppala, Prospects of Renewable
Energy Sources in India: Prioritization of Alternative Sources in
Terms of Energy Index, Energy (2017),
doi:10.1016/j.energy.2017.03.110
Country wise generation of electricity
from geothermal energy in 2015
Reference: M. R. Islam et al. (eds.), Renewable Energy and
the Environment, Renewable Energy
Sources & Energy Storage, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-
10-7287-1_1
L19: Volcanoes

Source: http://geothermaleducation.org/GEOpresentation/sld009.htm
L19: Geothermal sources
 Five general kinds of geothermal resources have been
identified

(1) Hydrothermal convective systems: water is heated by

contact with hot rock.
(i) Vapor dominated or dry steam fields : water is
vaporized into steam for use in electric power plants.
(ii) Liquid dominated or wet stem fields: Hot water is
tapped by wells from underground to the surface.
(2) Geopressure resources: Reservoirs contain high
temperature water under high pressure.
(3) Petro thermal rocks or Hot dry rocks: Hot solid
rocks at moderate depths with no approach for water.
(4) Magma resources: Molten rock with temperatures in
excess of 650 C at moderate depths.
Source:
http://geothermaleducation.org/GEOpresentation/sld009.htm
L20: Vapour dominated power plant
L20: Liquid dominated single flash steam system
L20: Liquid dominated double flash steam system
L20: Liquid dominated binary cycle system
L21: Site selection for geothermal power plants
At present, relatively little is known about methods for predicting geothermal reservoir characteristics
procedures under study include the following

 Heat flow rate: The heat flow in the ground is measured in bore holes to a depth of about 100 m or more. It
is commonly expressed in heat flow units (HFU), where 1 HFU is equal 0.0418 watt per sq. m.

 Water chemistry: Concentration of mineral salts in the water may be used to distinguish between geothermal
reservoirs of different types.

 Electrical resistivity: The electrical resistivity depends largely on the salinity of ground water, temperature
of ground water and the porosity of the rocks. Resistivity indicates presence of hot water.

 Seismic monitoring: Geothermal reservoirs may be associated with minor earthquake activity which can be
readily directed by a seismometer. These micro seismic signals may be related to reservoir depth and the
temperature gradient.
L21: Problems associated with geothermal conversion
 Re-injection: Re-injection would avoid discharging large quantities of heat into rivers, with consequent
hazards to fisheries, and would also avoid infecting rivers.

 Land erosion (dislodging land): Closer control, replanting of trees, more careful site selection and
improved construction methods can solve this problem.

 Noise: Exhausts, separators etc. are some of the sources of noise that necessitate the installation of
silencers on some equipment.

 Water borne poisons: The water phase in wet fields some times contain toxic mercury, arsenic,
ammonia etc. which if discharged could contaminate water downstream.

 Air borne poisons: From various points, harmful substances may escape into the air at thermal sites.
These may contain radioactive substances.

 Seismicity: Some fears have been expressed that prolonged geothermal exploitation could trigger of
earthquakes especially if reinjection is practiced in zones of high stress areas.
L21: Applications of geothermal energy
<= This small greenhouse is heated with geothermal water.
Plants grow faster and larger when they have additional
heat available.

=> Peppers, tomatoes, and flowers are commonly

grown in geothermally heated greenhouses.

Source:http://geothermaleducation.org/
GEOpresentation/sld009.htm
L21: Applications of geothermal energy
<= Geothermal water is also used to speed the growth of
fish. These are growing in a geothermally heated hatchery
at Mammoth Lakes, California.

=> Modern day Beppu Japan uses geothermal water

and heat in buildings and factories and has 4,000 hot
springs and bathing facilities that attract 12 million
tourists a year.

Source:http://geothermaleducation.org/
GEOpresentation/sld009.htm
L21: Applications of geothermal energy
<= Hot water from one or more geothermal wells is piped
through a heat exchanger plant to heat city water in
separate pipes. Hot city water is piped to heat exchangers
in buildings to warm the air

Source:http://geothermaleducation.org/
GEOpresentation/sld009.htm