Geothermal energy system and method of operation

Abstract

A geothermal energy system comprising at least one borehole heat exchanger, Hie at least one borehole heat exchanger containing a working fluid and comprising an elongate tube having a closed bottom end and first and second adjacent elongate coaxial conduits interconnected at the bottom end, the first conduit being tubular and surrounded by the second conduit which is annular, the at least one borehole heat exchanger having a major portion thereof extending in a substantially inclined orientation at an angle of from 3 to 95 degrees from vertical.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a geothermal energy system and also to a method of operating a geothermal energy system. Background technique [0002] For more than a century, geothermal energy has been used around the world in various forms for electricity generation and direct heating. Typically, these devices are located in volcanically active regions where high-enthalpy source rocks are relatively close to or at the Earth's surface, such as the western United States, Iceland, or the Philippines. Lesser known but of increasing importance in recent decades has been the application of low-enthalpy geothermal resources such as low-temperature turbine generators and the use of ground-source heat pumps (GSHP) for heating, cooling and heat storage development has been achieved. [0003] The basic principle involved takes advantage of the stable thermal conditions that exist in the formation below about 10 meters below the surface. This stability comes from th...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This extra ground pipe creates ongoing operational losses such as heat and pressure loss

This in turn requires additional electrical power to cover operational losses, as well as increased costs for the construction and maintenance of additional surface collection systems

This has long been a limiting factor for large GSHP plants

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