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Title: Parametric Sensivity Study of Operating and Design Variables in Wellbore Heat Exchangers

Abstract

This report documents the results of an extensive sensitivity study conducted by the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. This study investigated the effects of various operating and design parameters on wellbore heat exchanger performance to determine conditions for optimal thermal energy extraction and evaluate the potential for using a wellbore heat exchanger model for power generation. Variables studied included operational parameters such as circulation rates, wellbore geometries and working fluid properties, and regional properties including basal heat flux and formation rock type. Energy extraction is strongly affected by fluid residence time, heat transfer contact area, and formation thermal properties. Water appears to be the most appropriate working fluid. Aside from minimal tubing insulation, tubing properties are second order effects. On the basis of the sensitivity study, a best case model was simulated and the results compared against existing low-temperature power generation plants. Even assuming ideal work conversion to electric power, a wellbore heat exchange model cannot generate 200 kW (682.4e+3 BTU/h) at the onset of pseudosteady state. Using realistic conversion efficiency, the method is unlikely to generate 50 kW (170.6e+3 BTU/h).

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
DOE - EE
OSTI Identifier:
910645
Report Number(s):
INEEL/EXT-03-01433
TRN: US200802%%22
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC07-99ID-13727
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
15 - GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; DESIGN; EFFICIENCY; ELECTRIC POWER; HEAT EXCHANGERS; HEAT FLUX; HEAT TRANSFER; INEEL; PERFORMANCE; PERIPHERAL MODELS; POWER GENERATION; SENSITIVITY; THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES; WATER; WORKING FLUIDS; heat exchanger, wellbore, geothermal, conduction

Citation Formats

Shook, G Michael, Nalla, Gopi, Mines, Gregory L, and Bloomfield, K Kit. Parametric Sensivity Study of Operating and Design Variables in Wellbore Heat Exchangers. United States: N. p., 2004. Web. doi:10.2172/910645.
Shook, G Michael, Nalla, Gopi, Mines, Gregory L, & Bloomfield, K Kit. Parametric Sensivity Study of Operating and Design Variables in Wellbore Heat Exchangers. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/910645
Shook, G Michael, Nalla, Gopi, Mines, Gregory L, and Bloomfield, K Kit. 2004. "Parametric Sensivity Study of Operating and Design Variables in Wellbore Heat Exchangers". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/910645. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/910645.
@article{osti_910645,
title = {Parametric Sensivity Study of Operating and Design Variables in Wellbore Heat Exchangers},
author = {Shook, G Michael and Nalla, Gopi and Mines, Gregory L and Bloomfield, K Kit},
abstractNote = {This report documents the results of an extensive sensitivity study conducted by the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. This study investigated the effects of various operating and design parameters on wellbore heat exchanger performance to determine conditions for optimal thermal energy extraction and evaluate the potential for using a wellbore heat exchanger model for power generation. Variables studied included operational parameters such as circulation rates, wellbore geometries and working fluid properties, and regional properties including basal heat flux and formation rock type. Energy extraction is strongly affected by fluid residence time, heat transfer contact area, and formation thermal properties. Water appears to be the most appropriate working fluid. Aside from minimal tubing insulation, tubing properties are second order effects. On the basis of the sensitivity study, a best case model was simulated and the results compared against existing low-temperature power generation plants. Even assuming ideal work conversion to electric power, a wellbore heat exchange model cannot generate 200 kW (682.4e+3 BTU/h) at the onset of pseudosteady state. Using realistic conversion efficiency, the method is unlikely to generate 50 kW (170.6e+3 BTU/h).},
doi = {10.2172/910645},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/910645}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2004},
month = {Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2004}
}