Assessing the Thermal Environmental Impacts of an Groundwater Heat Pump in Southeastern Washington State

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Geothermics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2011.10.004· OSTI ID:1039833

Freedman, Vicky L; Waichler, Scott R; Mackley, Rob D; Horner, Jacob A

A thermal analysis of a large-scale (e.g., 1900 gpm), open-loop ground source heat pump (GSHP) installed on the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) campus in southeastern Washington State has been performed using a numerical modeling approach. Water temperature increases at the upgradient extraction wells in the system and at the downgradient Columbia River are potential concerns, especially since heat rejection to the subsurface will occur year-round. Hence, thermal impacts of the open-loop GSHP were investigated to identify operational scenarios that minimized downgradient environmental impacts at the river, and upgradient temperature drift at the production wells. Simulations examined the sensitivity of the system to variations in pumping rates and injected water temperatures, as well as to hydraulic conductivity estimates of the aquifer. Results demonstrated that both downgradient and upgradient thermal impacts were more sensitive to injection flow rates than estimates of hydraulic conductivity. Higher injection rates at lower temperatures resulted in higher temperature increases at the extraction wells but lower increases at the river. Conversely, lower pumping rates and higher injected water temperatures resulted in a smaller temperature increase at the extraction wells, but higher increases at the river. The scenario with lower pumping rates is operationally more efficient, but does increase the likelihood of a thermal plume discharging into the Columbia River. However, this impact would be mitigated by mixing within the hyporheic zone and the Columbia River. The impact under current operational conditions is negligible, but future increases in heat rejection could require a compromise between maximizing operational efficiency and minimizing temperature increases at the shoreline.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1039833
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-76515; GTMCAT; TRN: US201210%%60
• Journal Information: Geothermics, Vol. 42; ISSN 0375-6505
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
COLUMBIA RIVER
EFFICIENCY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FLOW RATE
GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
HEAT PUMPS
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
PLUMES
PRODUCTION
PUMPING
SENSITIVITY
SIMULATION
THERMAL ANALYSIS
WATER
GROUND WATER
Geothermal
open-loop heat pumps
ground source heat pumps
GSHPs
groundwater
STOMP