Energy and environmental issues of aquifer thermal energy storage

Conference · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:7020672

Kannberg, L D

Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) has the potential to provide storage for large-scale industrial and building heating and cooling at many sites in the US. However, implementation requires careful attention to site geohydraulic and geochemical characteristics. Field tests in the US have shown that over 60% of the heat injected at temperatures over 100/degree/C can be recovered on a seasonal cycle. Similarly, aquifer storage of chilled groundwater can provide building cooling with a reduction of over 50% in annual cooling electrical energy consumption and a factor of 20 reduction in summer cooling peak electrical demand. Heat ATES will require water treatment at most sites to prevent precipitation of calcium and magnesium carbonates and silica (depending upon the temperature regime). Environmental concerns create a need for detailed geochemical and water treatment analysis using models and laboratory studies. At some sites microbiological issues must also be resolved. In some instances bacteria can cause extensive corrosion or clogging of the well screen and surrounding porous media. At other sites effects on indigenous beneficial microbiota and the potential for augmenting growth and release of pathogenic organisms are of concern. Laboratory research as well as field testing is being conducted to extend and augment experience in related technologies. Results from field testing and environmental monitoring have not revealed dramatic environmental impacts. Rather, they have revealed the strong potential for geochemical and geohydraulic factors to influence successful ATES operations. 12 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 7020672
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-15909; CONF-881033-2; ON: DE89001999
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250600* -- Energy Storage-- Thermal
AQUIFERS
BACTERIA
CHEMISTRY
ENERGY STORAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EVALUATION
FIELD TESTS
GEOLOGY
GROUND WATER
HEAT STORAGE
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
MICROORGANISMS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRECIPITATION
SEASONAL THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STORAGE
TESTING
WATER
WATER TREATMENT