Evaluation of electricity generation from underground coal fires and waste banks

Journal Article · Fri Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · Journal of Energy Resources Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2718576· OSTI ID:20939513

Chiasson, A D; Yavuzturk, C; Walrath, D E ^[1]

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1. Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, OR (United States)

A temperature response factors model of vertical thermal energy extraction boreholes is presented to evaluate electricity generation from underground coal fires and waste banks. Sensitivity and life-cycle cost analyses are conducted to assess the impact of system parameters on the production of 1 MW of electrical power using a theoretical binary-cycle power plant. Sensitivity analyses indicate that the average underground temperature has the greatest impact on the exiting fluid temperatures from the ground followed by fluid flow rate and ground thermal conductivity. System simulations show that a binary-cycle power plant may be economically feasible at ground temperatures as low as 190 {sup o}C.

• OSTI ID: 20939513
• Journal Information: Journal of Energy Resources Technology, Vol. 129, Issue 2; ISSN 0195-0738
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
FIRES
COMBUSTION
COAL SEAMS
SPOIL BANKS
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
POWER GENERATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
BOREHOLES
SIMULATION
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
COST
HEAT EXTRACTION
THERMAL POWER PLANTS