Exploring Heat Sources Using Gravimetric Data: A Case Study of Magadi Geothermal Prospect, Kenya

Understanding the location of the subsurface heat sources is crucial for efficient geothermal resource exploration and exploitation. This study aimed to investigate the faults and the depth to heat sources for a geothermal system in Magadi, southern Rift Valley, through the integration of gravity mapping, 3D Euler deconvolution, and spectral analysis. Gravity mapping is a powerful geophysical method widely used to infer subsurface density variations, which are indicative of geological structures and volcanic intrusions that can be potential heat sources. The Volcano-Tectonic and Fluvial-Deltaic Sedimentation process of the Kenyan rift which encompasses the Magadi basin are responsible for geomorphic and geologic processes in the area. Alkali lava sheets of Magadi plateau trachytes covered with lacustrine sediments characterize 80% of the area. Deeper is the Tanzanian craton basement, overlain by Pliocene to Miocene volcanic and sedimentary rocks. A gravity survey with a data density of 2.375 stations/km2 produced high-resolution anomaly and total horizontal derivative maps showing gravity highs between −180 mGals to −174 mGals along the eastern zone of the study area. A buried major fault trending N-S was delineated in the mid-upper region of the area by Euler solutions at an average depth of 350 meters. Deeper features associated with possible volcanic dykes and sills gave Euler depth ranges of 0.7 km to 2.2 km. Radial average spectral analysis showed depth to the top of shallow and deep features at 2.4694 km and 5.827 km respectively. The correlation between gravity anomalies, geological structures, and present hot springs supports the hypothesis that volcanic processes have played a significant role in the development of the geothermal system in the study area.

Digitization characteristics of geothermal information and structural analysis of 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Ms9.0 earthquake

Earthquake is one of the difficult problems that can not be solved as of this writing since the time when mod- em science was initiated over 300 years ago, and irregular events cannot be dealt with by using quantities examples before and followed by a view of the number of analysis systems in modem science ; meanwhile, it covers the problem that how to use changeable information. Structural analysis method is developed particularly for the study of evolutionary transitional processes of the changing events by employing irregular information, and emphasizes the primitiveness of changes in events. Based on the data of sounding observation every 08 o＇ clock and 20 o＇ clock per day from China Meteorological Administration, in this paper, we employ the digital structural analysis method to analyze the process of the special, structural characteristics of 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Ms9.0 earthquake. The result shows that the method can reflect the process of geothermal structures before and after earthquake; it can reflect the congruity between geothermal ＂heat level＂ and the level of earthquake energy. When the structure before the earthquake is ＂the counter clockwise rolling current and the unstable structures＂ with ＂dry in lower levels and wet in upper levels＂, we should be worry about the problem of earthquake. In a word, geothermal information could reveal that earthquakes really would be ＂heralded＂.

Coupling effect of evaporation and condensation processes of organic Rankine cycle for geothermal power generation improvement

Organic Rankine cycle(ORC)is widely used for the low grade geothermal power generation.However,a large amount of irreversible loss results in poor technical and economic performance due to its poor matching between the heat source/sink and the working medium in the condenser and the evaporator.The condensing temperature,cooling water temperature difference and pinch point temperature difference are often fixed according to engineering experience.In order to optimize the ORC system comprehensively,the coupling effect of evaporation and condensation process was proposed in this paper.Based on the laws of thermodynamics,the energy analysis,exergy analysis and entropy analysis were adopted to investigate the ORC performance including net output power,thermal efficiency,exergy efficiency,thermal conductivity,irreversible loss,etc.,using geothermal water at a temperature of 120℃as the heat source and isobutane as the working fluid.The results show that there exists a pair of optimal evaporating temperature and condensing temperatures to maximize the system performance.The net power output and the system comprehensive performance achieve their highest values at the same evaporating temperature,but the system comprehensive performance corresponds to a lower condensing temperature than the net power output.

Geological characteristics and analysis of hydrothermal genesis in the Suijiang-1 well in Yunnan Province, China

The geothermal water hydrochemistry and isotopic characteristics of boreholes in the Suijiang-1 well in Yunnan Province were studied based on the actual drilling geology, regional geological structure and hydrogeological conditions. The analysis results show that the geothermal water is SO_4-Ca·Mg type, the recharge elevation is 1 381-1 646 m, the recharge source is atmospheric precipitation, the geothermal reservoir temperature is 42-45 ℃, and the geothermal water is controlled by lithology and geological structure conditions of study area. Atmospheric precipitation enters the groundwater circulation system through the surface karst form of the Wujiaobao anticline, northwest-southeast tensile faults, fissures and karst depression, and geothermal water formed through the rising deep cycle water temperature, then blocked by the double rivers' fault zone and drilling explosion.

Economical Evaluation of a Low-Enthalpy Geothermal Resource Located in an Arid-Zone Area

In this work an economical evaluation that established the viability of a low enthalpy geothermal resource as an energy source in north Africa is presented. The factors considered included the payback period, average rate of return, net present value, and net benefit-cost ratio. The model was based on utilising the energy source to energise four models that comprised thermal equipment consisting of water/air cooled single/half effect lithium bromide water mixture absorption chillers and an R-245fa organic Rankine cycle. These modelled cycles were based on the energy demand for Waddan city a community in southern Libya which has a demand for combined cooling/electricity only or cooling/electricity with district hot water supply. The results revealed that all of the proposed simulated stand-alone models, except the water-cooled half effect chiller, are not economically viable unless they are heavily subsidized or combined with the district hot water supply at least in the winter season.

Geothermal structure revealed by curie isothermal surface under Guangdong Province,China

Guangdong Province in Southeast China is noted for its numerous geothermal resources due to tectonic episodes,mainly occurred during the Cretaceous.The surface heat flow and geothermal gradient are the most direct ways to understand the temperature of the Earth.However,geothermal resources are poorly utilized in Guangdong Province due to limited numbers of boreholes and surficial hydrothermal fluids.To improve the understanding of underground temperature distribution in Guangdong Province,we have applied power-density spectral analysis to aeromagnetic anomaly data to calculate the depth of the Curie isothermal surface.Upward continuation is applied and tested to the magnetic data.The calculated Curie isotherm is between 18.5 km and 25 km below surface.The fluctuation in the depth range reflects lateral thermal perturbations in the Guangdong crust.In particular,the eastern,northern,western and coastline areas of the province have a relatively shallow Curie isotherm.By comparing the surface heat flow,geothermal gradient,distribution of Mesozoic granite-volcanic rocks,and natural hot springs,we conclude that during Mesozoic,magmatism exerted great influence on the deep thermal state of Guangdong Province.A shallow Curie isotherm surface,as well as numerous natural hot springs and high heat flow,show clear signatures of shallow heat sources.

Geothermal Energy Production Potential from Oil and Gas Fields in Western Ukraine

Western Ukraine as well as Crimea Peninsula is well known for their geothermal potential.The classic low enthalpy geothermal project is based on the construction of a binary power plant,and includes recycling of water through one or several doublets of wells;produced hot water is directed to a heat exchanger(vaporizer),in which a secondary(working)fluid with low boiling point and high vapor pressure vaporizes and rotates a turbine to produce electricity.The highest risk for the project is associated with drilling new wells,which may not hit the target or not have the required productivity.Western Ukraine is one of the oldest oil and gas production regions in Europe.The majority of the fields are on a late stage of the development that is characterized with high produced volumes of water that after separation is being reinjected back for pressure support.In this study,we evaluated the possibility of geothermal energy production,extracted from water that is produced together with oil and gas,based on numerical reservoir simulation models for a typical reservoir setting.

Study of the Geothermal Potential of the Locality of Kaladi and Its Surroundings (Adamawa-Cameroon) from the Frequency Processing of Magnetic Data

The aim of this study is to estimate the variations in curie point depth, geothermal gradient and heat flux from the frequency analysis of magnetic data in order to evaluate the geothermal potential of the Kaladi locality and its surroundings. For this purpose, the magnetic field map was first reduced to equator (RTE). The centroid method was used to divide the RTE grid into a set of 40 blocks. The spectral analysis applied to each block allowed determining the depth to top (Zt), center (Z0) and bottom (Zb also called curie point depth or CPD) of the magnetic sources. Knowing the different CPD, the geothermal gradient associated with each block was calculated. The heat flow was then calculated from the geothermal gradient associated with the anomaly block considered. From the set of values obtained for each block, maps of geothermal gradient and heat flow variations were established. Analysis of these maps shows that the sectors that could be favourable for geothermal exploration are the north of Kaladi and the Goro-Bembara corridor, because they show variations in the geothermal gradient and heat flow between 0.4 and 0.8℃/m and between 1.2 and 2 mW/m2 respectively. In addition, the superposition of the different hot springs highlighted in previous studies with areas of high geothermal gradient and heat flow values supports this analysis. The proposed models can be used as background documents for any geothermal exploration project in the study area.

Thermal Comparison of an Organic Rankine Cycle Activated by a Low-Temperature Geothermal Heat Source

This study compares the results from the thermodynamic analysis at an Organic Rankine Cycle power plant,for first and second law efficiency,operating with 14 different working fluids.This plant—located in the town of Los Negritos,in the municipality of Villamar,in the State of Michoacán,Mexico—uses heat from a low-temperature geothermal source with the purpose of identifying the working fluids that are best suited for the operating conditions at hand.REFPROP v.8.0 software was used to collect the thermodynamic properties.Of all the thermodynamic parameters that were analyzed,the fluid that performed the best had an overall energy efficiency of 5.87%,an overall exergy efficiency of 43.07%,and a net output power of 13.04 kWe.

Assessment of Vertical Magnetic Gradient Data of Tuzla Fault Using Boundary Analysis and 3-D Inversion Techniques

The magnetic prospection is one of the most useful methods to determine buried geological structures such as shallow fracture zones. The investigation of vertical and horizontal gradient and total magnetic field variations over geological structures, which have been used for many years, may reveal their locations, geometries and physical characteristics. In this study, a proposed iterative 3-D rectangular prismatic model inversion algorithm was modified to interpret vertical magnetic gradient data defining the boundaries and the physical parameters of the anomalous structure. Vertical magnetic gradient measurements were carried out at the Tuzla fault, an active fault system located along NE-SW direction in Izmir (Turkey). Boundary analysis studies were applied to data in order to obtain boundaries of the structures, afterwards the inversion process was carried out considering these geometries. As a result, location, direction and other physical and geometrical features of the fault are achieved.

干热岩压裂储层布井方式优选数值模拟

增强型地热系统(EGS)是从干热岩储层中提取热能的重要手段,而布井方式是影响其采热效果的关键因素,目前开展的布井方式研究较少考虑压裂储层开采模型的影响。建立了干热岩压裂储层采热的数值模型,通过不同位置的基质岩体温度下降幅度、热提取率、采出温度和采热功率对比分析了4种不同的布井方式对EGS采热性能的影响。结果表明:相较于直井,水平井的流体热交换的面积更大,能充分开发裂缝间的热量。在生产30 a时,考虑水力压裂裂缝连通的情况下,水平井一注两采模型的采热效率最高,其在垂直于井方向上温度波及范围约690 m,基质岩体平均温度下降38.09 K,热提取率为24.42%,采热功率为3.5 MW。研究成果为提高地热系统产热量、实现干热岩高效可持续开发提供了理论参考。

地热井用两级潜水泵内流熵产诊断及水力性能优化

为了提升地热井用潜水泵的运行效率,根据地热井用潜水泵的流动参数和实际运行工况,完成了两级潜水泵过流部件水力设计,并进行了全流道流动数值模拟和试验验证;采用熵产分析法定位了潜水泵内流场的高能耗区域,主要集中在级间交汇和动静部件干涉处;采用正交设计和结构参数敏感性分析方法,确定了结构参数对潜水泵性能的影响规律,以叶轮叶片出口角、出口宽度、叶片包角和导叶轴向长度为优化变量,以扬程和效率为优化目标,通过遗传算法、最优拉丁超立方采样和熵权TOPSIS法对两级潜水泵进行水力优化。结果表明,额定工况下,优化泵的扬程增加了24.9%,效率增加了5.7%,总水力损失减小了1024.9 W,高能耗区域明显降低,水力性能显著提升,分离流、二次回流和冲击流动等不良流动得到显著抑制;大流量工况处理能力大幅度提升,高效区间范围扩大了70%,运行稳定性得到显著提高。研究内容为潜水泵的设计及内流场研究提供理论指导。

羊八井-谷露裂谷地热水锂空间分布规律及其成因的统计分析

位于西藏羊八井-谷露裂谷中的地热水锂含量高于西藏温泉平均水平,但其水化学成因仍有争议,主要原因之一为该区域地热水中锂的空间分布规律不明。常见的空间规律分析方法为普通克里金法(Ordinary Kriging)和协同克里金法(CO-Kriging),但前者精度不高,后者难以获得合适的辅助变量。为此,提出2种确定辅助变量的方法:一是采用与锂相关性最强的物理化学指标Cl^(-)浓度作为辅助变量;二是采用主成分分析综合指标F作为辅助变量。将2种辅助变量分别耦合进CO-Kriging中,形成Cl^(-)-CO-Kriging和F-CO-Kriging方法,用以分析西藏羊八井-谷露裂谷中的地热水锂分布规律。结果表明,相比于Ordinary Kriging,F-CO-Kriging和Cl^(-)-CO-Kriging预测精度有明显提高;其中F-CO-Kriging的E_(MA)和E_(RMS)平均提高30.3%,Cl^(-)-CO-Kriging的E_(MA)和E_(RMS)平均提高28.5%,而且显示地热水中的锂与断裂在空间分布上具有一致性,在谷露地热区锂有明显的富集现象。进一步采用系统聚类和因子分析方法,探究影响地热水中锂空间分布的水化学成因发现,高温、高TDS、低Ca^(2+)浓度、低Mg^(2+)浓度、高硼浓度的碱性环境中锂浓度更高。研究成果为探讨青藏高原地热水中的高锂乃至其他稀有金属的成因和资源评价奠定基础。

水热型地热系统水文地球化学研究进展

水热型地热系统是指以水或蒸汽为主要热储介质和热传导介质的地热系统,作为主要的地热资源类型,具有重要科学研究和开发利用价值。综述水热型地热系统的水文地球化学研究方法和进展,主要包括以下几个方面:水化学研究方法,介绍传统水文地球化学方法、多元统计分析方法和机器学习的非线性分析方法,以及不同方法的特点;同位素技术,概述常用的同位素技术在水热系统中的用途和应用实例,以及近期在地热研究中出现的同位素指标;地热温度计,介绍传统地球化学温标温度计、多组分地热温度计和基于活度理论的地热温度计,对比它们的适用条件和优缺点,旨在为水热型地热系统的地球化学研究提供一个基础性的参考框架。未来应该加强水化学特征分析方法的优化和标准化、同位素技术精度的提高、地热温度计的适用性和可靠性评估等方面,以实现水文地球化学方法在水热型地热资源勘查中的高效应用。

超长重力热管联合热泵的地热利用系统热力经济性分析

深层地热资源储量巨大,采用超长重力热管取热技术对深层地热资源进行开采,将其与热泵系统联合为用户供热是一种高效利用深层地热资源的方法。针对如何调节不同参数下超长重力热管与热泵联合运行以期获得最佳热力经济性的问题,建立了系统热力经济性模型,研究了热泵系统蒸发温度、超长重力热管热阻、井深、地温梯度以及蒸发器面积不同的情况下系统热力经济性变化规律。结果表明存在一个最佳蒸发温度使供热成本最低,如在地温梯度30℃/km、井深3 000 m的条件下,最佳蒸发温度为-2℃;超长重力热管热阻越小或地温梯度越大时可实现供热成本越低且最佳蒸发温度越高;存在最佳的井深和蒸发器面积使得供热成本最低。研究结果可为优化超长重力热管在开采深层地热联合热泵系统性能方面提供理论指导。

基于气液两相地热源的ORC发电系统工质筛选

针对以热源温度为140℃的气液两相混合地热流体为热源驱动的有机朗肯循环(ORC)发电系统最佳工质筛选问题,选取6种干工质,通过在MATLAB中搭建系统模型,分析了各工质蒸发温度对系统热力性能的影响,对比了不同蒸气质量分数下最佳蒸发温度随热源温度的变化规律,并研究了热源质量流量对系统净输出功率的影响以及蒸发温度对回灌温度的影响。结果表明:综合考虑工质的热力性能、物理化学稳定性、热源匹配性以及回灌温度对地热ORC发电系统的影响,工质R601a(异戊烷)可作为以140℃气液两相混合地热流体为热源驱动的ORC发电系统的最佳适用工质。

地热井钻井过程中漏失对井筒温度分布的影响

针对地热井钻井过程中经常发生的井漏现象,建立了预测井筒和周围地层温度分布二维瞬态温度模型。采用有限体积法对模型进行离散,使用欠松弛迭代法进行求解;通过与之前建立的井筒温度模型进行对比,验证了本文建立的模型的有效性,得到了地热井裸眼段发生漏失时井筒温度分布规律,分析了影响井筒温度分布的敏感性因素。研究表明,在发生漏失的位置,环空钻井液温度分布曲线发生了明显的突变。井筒内持续性的漏失现象会降低环空与钻杆内的钻井液循环温度,体现了井漏对钻井液的冷却作用,尤其对井底靠近漏失层位的部分井段效果更明显。在钻井液循环相同的时间后,漏失情况下的井口温度和井底温度明显低于正常循环情况下的井口温度和井底温度。裸眼地层段漏失的发生不仅对漏失点以上的井筒温度分布产生了重要影响,也显著影响了漏失点以下的井筒温度分布。

冀南农村住宅太阳能辅助浅层地热能系统运行特性分析

浅层地热具有分布广泛、储量巨大的特点,但对于北方农村建筑冬季供暖热负荷远大于夏季冷负荷,容易出现土壤的热失衡问题。本文以冀南地区农村住宅为例,设计了一套太阳能辅助浅层地热能系统。与原有浅层地源热泵系统相比,首先分析了目标建筑的室内外温差变化。其次监测土壤温度场和供回水温差的变化。最后对辅助系统的初投资和运行成本进行分析。结果表明:冬季地温场平均温度明显上升,通过太阳能和地源热泵交替运行,减少了从地下提取的热量,缩短了冬季取热量和夏季排热量不平衡周期,缓解了全年土壤冷热负荷不平衡的问题。地埋管进出水温度和换热效率有较大的提高,应用了辅助系统的系统能效比从2020年的3.40提高到了4.17,提高了0.77。太阳能辅助浅层地热能系统最佳配比为12.80m^(2)太阳能集热面积和1个地埋孔。太阳能辅助浅层地热能系统冬季供暖运行成本为18.86元/m^(2)。与单一地源热泵系统相比可节约37%的采暖、制冷及热水全年运行费用,与传统供暖制冷模式相比可以节约40%-45%的全年运行费用。

耦合CO_(2)脱气的岩溶地热水结垢趋势定量分析

岩溶地热系统是最具开发潜力的水热型地热系统之一,在水热型地热资源利用中,地热水结垢(尤其是井下结垢)是目前面临的最普遍、最重要的问题之一,制约着地热水资源可持续利用。针对岩溶地热水结垢趋势分析方法存在的不足,在重点考虑CO_(2)脱气这一重要过程对结垢趋势影响的基础上,利用化学热力学模拟技术构建了一种耦合CO_(2)脱气过程的结垢趋势定量分析的改进方法,并将其应用于南京汤山岩溶地热区。结果表明汤山地区地热水不具有发生SiO 2结垢的趋势;在井口有发生碳酸盐结垢趋势,主要成分为CaCO_(3);井筒中下部有发生不同程度的硫酸盐结垢趋势,主要成分为CaSO_(4),SrSO_(4),BaSO_(4)。本研究在改进结垢趋势分析方法不足的同时,为防垢除垢工作提供了理论基础和方法指导,可有力促进地热水资源的可持续利用。

中深层套管式地埋管地源热泵系统能效分析

中深层套管式地埋管地源热泵系统的能效受多种因素影响,为保证其高效运行,对其影响因素进行研究尤为重要。本文建立了中深层套管式地埋管地源热泵系统换热器传热模型,采用工程实测数据验证该模型的准确性。基于该模型,量化了一个供暖期内多种因素对系统能效的影响。结果表明:进口水温和岩土导热系数对系统能效具有重要影响,回填材料导热系数对其影响较小;增大循环流量会提高取热功率,但系统能效也随之降低,当循环流量由8.33 kg/s增大至10.56 kg/s时,取热功率提升4.95%,能效下降1.23%;增大外管管径、岩土和回填材料的导热系数能够提升系统能效,但达到一定数值后,对能效提升效果不显著。本研究对中深层套管式地埋管地源热泵系统长期稳定运行及能效提升具有参考意义。