Aquifer thermal energy storage: a survey

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6716852· OSTI ID:6716852

Tsang, C F; Hopkins, D; Hellstroem, G

The disparity between energy production and demand in many power plants has led to increased research on the long-term, large-scale storage of thermal energy in aquifers. Field experiments have been conducted in Switzerland, France, the United States, Japan, and the People's Republic of China to study various technical aspects of aquifer storage of both hot and cold water. Furthermore, feasibility studies now in progress include technical, economic, and environmental analyses, regional exploration to locate favorable storage sites, and evaluation and design of pilot plants. Several theoretical and modeling studies are also under way. Among the topics being studied using numerical models are fluid and heat flow, dispersion, land subsidence or uplift, the efficiency of different injection/withdrawal schemes, buoyancy tilting, numerical dispersion, the use of compensation wells to counter regional flow, steam injection, and storage in narrow glacial deposits of high permeability. Experiments to date illustrate the need for further research and development to ensure successful implementation of an aquifer storage system. Some of the areas identified for further research include shape and location of the hydrodynamic and thermal fronts, choice of appropriate aquifers, thermal dispersion, possibility of land subsidence or uplift, thermal pollution, water chemistry, wellbore plugging and heat exchange efficiency, and control of corrosion.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6716852
• Report Number(s): LBL-10441
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250600* -- Energy Storage-- Thermal
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
296001 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power Generation-- (-1989)
AQUIFERS
DATA
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECONOMICS
ENERGY STORAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
HEAT STORAGE
HOT WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUMERICAL DATA
OFF-PEAK ENERGY STORAGE
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER PLANTS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
REVIEWS
SENSIBLE HEAT STORAGE
STORAGE
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
THEORETICAL DATA
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
WATER