Aquifer thermal energy storage: past experiments, computer simulations and present applications
If hot or chilled water is pumped into an aquifer, stored for a period of time, and then recovered, one has an example of an aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) system. The major purpose of such a system is to store energy and thereby correct a mismatch between the availability and demand for heat or chill. During the late 1970's and early 1980's, Auburn University conducted a series of ATES experiments at a field site near Mobile, Alabama. The test site, developed under a USGS grant, and three separate DOE contracts, is located in a low terrace deposit of Quaternary age along the western edge of the Mobile river consisting of interbedded sands and clays. A typical experiment involved 2 months of hot water injection, two months of storage and 2 months of recovery. This was followed by computer simulation at LBL. Volumes of water up to 58,000 m/sup 3/ and heated to 81/sup 0/C were injected. An important part of an experiment was to calculate the recovery factor, defined as the ratio of energy recovered to energy injected in a volume of water equal to the injection volume. Depending on storage location, experiment duration, volume and temperature, recovery factors between 0.42 and 0.68 were realized. These factors were predicted well by LBL simulations. The various experiments at the Mobile site have demonstrated the technical feasibility of low temperate ATES (<100/sup 0/C) but not necessarily the economic feasibility. However, several applications of ATES technology currently underway in Canada, Denmark, Sweden and other locations in Europe are resolving the economic question.
- Research Organization:
- Auburn Univ., AL (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6415706
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Journal Information:
- Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Journal Name: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States) Vol. 17; ISSN GAAPB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Aquifer thermal energy storage - a feasibility study for large scale demonstration
Aquifer storage of winter chill at Stony Brook State University
Related Subjects
250600* -- Energy Storage-- Thermal
250902 -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Performance & Testing
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290500 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Research
Development
Demonstration
& Commercialization
ALABAMA
AQUIFERS
CENOZOIC ERA
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY RECOVERY
ENERGY STORAGE
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOLOGIC AGES
GROUND WATER
HEAT LOSSES
HEAT RECOVERY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INJECTION WELLS
LOSSES
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
QUATERNARY PERIOD
RECOVERY
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ROCK BEDS
SIMULATION
STORAGE
SURFACE WATERS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
USA
WATER
WATER RESERVOIRS
WELLS