Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Innovative measures for thermal performance enhancement of single well-based deep geothermal systems: existing solutions and some viable options

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Geomechanics and Geophysics for Geo-Energy and Geo-Resources Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Geothermal energy is taken as an important and future oriented energy source because of its renewable and clean features. The growth of geothermal exploitation and utilization, especially electricity generation, is still quite slow globally. The reason behind this situation can be attributed to high exploitation risk and cost, high water demand, and other environment related issues. The exploitation of deep geothermal energy could be more acceptable if the risk and cost can be effectively reduced. Therefore, a single well based geothermal system could be a possible choice, because the geological and hydrogeological uncertainty can be greatly reduced. However, a single well system is of limited area for heat transfer, thus usually resulting in low outlet temperature and unsatisfactory system efficiency. In the present work, existing methods for improving the heat extraction capability of a single-well geothermal system will be classified into different categories according to the theoretical model of borehole heat exchanger. The pros and cons of different methods are systematically analyzed, and some viable options that have not been investigated or paid attention to are also introduced with quantitative analysis. It is recommended to combine two or more methods together to achieve a better enhancement effect.

Article highlights

  1. 1.

    Various solutions for enhancing the thermal performance of single-well geothermal systems are grouped into four categories based on its governing equation,

  2. 2.

    Targeted solutions were delivered for building an enhanced close- or open-loop system,

  3. 3.

    Structured surface (STR), High-thermal-conductive Hollow Spiral Channel (HHSC), and hybrid LNG-BHE system can bring about remarkable performance improvement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

\({\left.{A}_{x}\right|}_{y}\) :

Area for heat transfer, \(x\) can be “cem” or “cas”; \(y\) can be “in” or “out”

d z :

The derivative with respect to z

\({h}_{cas}\) :

Convective heat transfer coefficient at inner side of casing layer

\({h}_{cem}\) :

Convective heat transfer coefficient at outer side of cement layer

\({K}_{cas}\) :

Thermal conductivity of casing layer

\({K}_{cem}\) :

Thermal conductivity of cement layer

L :

Well length or depth

\({Q}_{ttl}\) :

Total heat inflow

\({R}_{i}\) :

Radius of wellbore components (i = 1, 2,…,5)

\({T}_{fi}\) :

Temperature of working liquid in contact with the casing layer

\({T}_{e,cem}\) :

Temperature of formation in contact with the cement layer

\(z\) :

Oordinate along well depth or length

\(\Delta T\) :

Temperature difference between \({T}_{fi}\) and \({T}_{e,cem}\)

ALT:

Atmospheric lifetime

BHE:

Borehole heat exchanger

CONV:

Conventional structure design

F/S:

Field scale

GWP:

Global warming potential

HHSC:

High-thermal-conductive, Hollow Spiral Channel

IHE:

Internal heat exchanger

LNG:

Liquified natural gas

LN2:

Liquified nitrogen

MJ:

Megajoule or 1 million joules

ODP:

Ozone depletion potential

ORC:

Organic Rankine Cycle

PCM:

Phase change materials

ROI:

Return on investment

STR:

Structured grid/surface

T-s:

Temperature-entropy

TW:

Terawatt or 1 trillion watts

WF:

Working fluids

yr.:

Year

References

  • Akhmadullin I, Tyagi M (2014) Design and analysis of electric power production unit for low enthalpy geothermal reservoir applications. Int J Mech Mechatron Eng 1:6

    Google Scholar 

  • Alimonti C, Berardi D, Bocchetti D, Soldo E (2016) Coupling of energy conversion systems and wellbore heat exchanger in a depleted oil well. Geothermal Energy 4(1):1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alimonti C, Soldo E, Bocchetti D, Berardi D (2018) The wellbore heat exchangers: a technical review. Renew Energy 123:353–381

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baird NJ (2020) Geothermal conditioning: critical sources for sustainability. In: Loftness V (eds) Sustainable built environments. Encyclopedia of sustainability science and technology series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0684-1_422

  • Bause T, Campana F, Filippini L, Foresti A, Monti N, Pelz T (2014) Cogeneration with ORC at elbe-stahlwerke feralpi EAF shop. In: Proceedings of the iron & steel technology conference and exposition, Indianapolis, IN, USA, pp 5–8

  • Bivens DB (1996) Alternative refrigerants for building air conditioning. Energy systems laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/6698

  • Bommer JJ, Crowley H, Pinho R (2015) A risk-mitigation approach to the management of induced seismicity. J Seismolog 19(2):623–646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buchi HF (1990) Method and apparatus for extracting and utilizing geothermal energy. U.S. Patent No. 4,912,941, Issued on February 08, 1988

  • Cheng W-L, Li T-T, Nian Y-L, Xie K (2014) Evaluation of working fluids for geothermal power generation from abandoned oil wells. Appl Energy 118:238–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng W-L, Liu J, Nian Y-L, Wang C-L (2016) Enhancing geothermal power generation from abandoned oil wells with thermal reservoirs. Energy 109:537–545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins M, Law R (2017) The development and deployment of deep geothermal single well (DGSW) technology in the United Kingdom. Eur Geol J 43:63–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Colonna P, Casati E, Trapp C, Mathijssen T, Larjola J, Turunen-Saaresti T, Uusitalo A (2015) Organic Rankine cycle power systems: from the concept to current technology, applications, and an outlook to the future. J Eng Gas Turb Power 137(10):100801

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cui G, Ren S, Zhang L, Ezekiel J, Enechukwu C, Wang Y, Zhang R (2017) Geothermal exploitation from hot dry rocks via recycling heat transmission fluid in a horizontal well. Energy 128:366–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickson MH, Fanelli M (2013) Geothermal energy: utilization and technology. Taylor & Francis Group, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Dijkshoorn L, Speer S, Pechnig R (2013) Measurements and design calculations for a deep coaxial borehole heat exchanger in Aachen. Germany Int J Geophys 2013:916541

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebadollahi M, Rostamzadeh H, Pedram MZ, Ghaebi H, Amidpour M (2019) Proposal and assessment of a new geothermal-based multigeneration system for cooling, heating, power, and hydrogen production, using LNG cold energy recovery. Renew Energy 135:66–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emadi MA, Mahmoudimehr J (2019) Modeling and thermo-economic optimization of a new multi-generation system with geothermal heat source and LNG heat sink. Energy Convers Manag 189:153–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erol S, Harcouët-Menou V, Laenen B, Bayer P (2021) Efficiency of single-well geothermal systems with multi-lateral drills. Geothermics 89:101928

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faizal M, Ahmed MR (2013) Experimental studies on a closed cycle demonstration OTEC plant working on small temperature difference. Renew Energy 51:234–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falcone G, Liu X, Okech RR, Seyidov F, Teodoriu C (2018) Assessment of deep geothermal energy exploitation methods: the need for novel single-well solutions. Energy 160:54–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finger J, Blankenship D (2010) Handbook of best practices for geothermal drilling. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque

    Google Scholar 

  • Gedzius I, Teodoriu C (2011). Innovative Erschließungskonzepte für Hot Dry Rock Projekte im Norddeutschen Becken. DGMK/ÖGEW-Frühjahrstagung

  • Ghaebi H, Parikhani T, Rostamzadeh H (2018) A novel trigeneration system using geothermal heat source and liquefied natural gas cold energy recovery: Energy, exergy and exergoeconomic analysis. Renew Energy 119:513–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant M (2013) Geothermal reservoir engineering. Academic Press Inc, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • GTherm (2012) Closed-loop heat exchanger "heat nest". Retrieved February 13, 2022, from https://grist.org/cleantech/2011-05-23-five-hot-rockin-geothermal-companies/

  • Hara H (2011) Geothermal well using graphite as solid conductor. U.S. Patent No. 20,110,232,858, Issued on November 15, 2010

  • Heller K, Teodoriu C, Falcone G (2014) A new deep geothermal concept based on the geyser principle. In: Proceedings, thirty-ninth workshop on geothermal reservoir engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. 24: 26

  • Hoang AT (2018) Waste heat recovery from diesel engines based on Organic Rankine Cycle. Appl Energy 231:138–166

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang W, Cao W, Jiang F (2018) A novel single-well geothermal system for hot dry rock geothermal energy exploitation. Energy 162:630–644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt R (2003) Method of enhanced heat extraction from a geothermal heat source for the production of electricity thermoelectrically and mechanically via the high-pressure injection of a cryogen into a U-tube or open tube heat exchanger within a geothermal heat source, such as a producing or depleted oil well or gas well, or such as a geothermal water well, or such as hot dry rock; and, method of air-lift pumping water; and, method of electrolyzing the water into hydrogen and oxygen using the electricity genarated. United States, Google Patents

  • Imran M, Pili R, Usman M, Haglind F (2020) Dynamic modeling and control strategies of organic Rankine cycle systems: Methods and challenges. Appl Energy 276:115537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jung R, Orzol J, Kehrer P, Jatho R (2006) Verbundprojekt: GeneSys: Vorstudie-Erprobung der Wasserfrac-Technik und des Einsonden-Zweischichtverfahrens für die Direktwärmenutzung aus gering permeablen Sedimentgesteinen: Abschlussbericht.

  • Kaya A, Lazova M, Huisseune H, Paepe M (2014) Selection of prospective working fluid candidates for subcritical OR evaporators. In: 10th international conference on heat transfer, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, Orlando, Florida. HEFAT2014: 1928–1937

  • Kohl T, Brenni R, Eugster W (2002) System performance of a deep borehole heat exchanger. Geothermics 31(6):687–708

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kristmannsdóttir H, Ármannsson H (2003) Environmental aspects of geothermal energy utilization. Geothermics 32(4–6):451–461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kubik M (2006) The Future of Geothermal Energy. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lakic N (2018) Self-contained in-ground geothermal generator and heat exchanger with in-line pump. U.S. Patent No. 9,978,466, Issued on May 22, 2018

  • Lehr JH, Keeley J (2016) Alternative energy and shale gas encyclopedia. Wiley, Hoboken

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lemmon EW, Huber ML, Mclinden MO (2007) NIST standard reference database 23: reference fluid thermodynamic and transport properties-REFPROP, version 8.0

  • Li C (2012) Fundamentals of fluid mechanics and thermal engineering. Tsinghua University, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Li C, Guan Y, Yang R, Lu X, Xiong W, Long A (2020) Effect of inner pipe type on the heat transfer performance of deep-buried coaxial double-pipe heat exchangers. Renew Energy 145:1049–1060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li K, Bian H, Liu C, Zhang D, Yang Y (2015) Comparison of geothermal with solar and wind power generation systems. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 42:1464–1474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang H, Guo X, Gao T, Wang L, Bu X (2020) Performance analysis of single-well enhanced geothermal system for building heating. The Scientific World Journal, Singapore

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lily M, Baidya B, Chandra AK (2017) Theoretical studies on atmospheric chemistry of HFE-245mc and perfluoro-ethyl formate: reaction with OH radicals, atmospheric fate of alkoxy radical and global warming potential. Chem Phys Lett 669:211–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Looney B (2020) BP statistical review of world energy. BP Report. London, UK

  • Michaelides EES (2012) Alternative energy sources. Springer, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Minea AA (2017) Advances in new heat transfer fluids: From numerical to experimental techniques. CRC Press, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mosaffa A, Mokarram NH, Farshi LG (2017) Thermo-economic analysis of combined different ORCs geothermal power plants and LNG cold energy. Geothermics 65:113–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Procesi M, Cantucci B, Buttinelli M, Armezzani G, Quattrocchi F, Boschi E (2013) Strategic use of the underground in an energy mix plan: synergies among CO2, CH4 geological storage and geothermal energy. Latium Region case study (Central Italy). Appl Energy 110:104–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saleh B, Koglbauer G, Wendland M, Fischer J (2007) Working fluids for low-temperature organic Rankine cycles. Energy 32(7):1210–1221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma P, Al Saedi A, Kabir C (2020) Geothermal energy extraction with wellbore heat exchanger: analytical model and parameter evaluation to optimize heat recovery. Renew Energy 166:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solomon S, Burkholder JB, Ravishankara A, Garcia RR (1994) Ozone depletion and global warming potentials of CF3I. J Geophys Res Atmosph 99(D10):20929–20935

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song X, Shi Y, Li G, Yang R, Wang G, Zheng R, Li J, Lyu Z (2018) Numerical simulation of heat extraction performance in enhanced geothermal system with multilateral wells. Appl Energy 218:325–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun F, Yao Y, Li G, Li X (2018) Performance of geothermal energy extraction in a horizontal well by using CO2 as the working fluid. Energy Convers Manag 171:1529–1539

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teodoriu C, Falcone G, Barcelos JGA (2015) The artificial geyser concept–new insights. In: Fourtieth workshop on geothermal reservoir engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California. SGP-TR-204

  • Tischner T, Evers H, Hauswirth H, Jatho R, Kosinowski M, Sulzbacher H (2010) New concepts for extracting geothermal energy from one well: the GeneSys-Project. In: Proceedings of the world geothermal congress, Bali. 2530

  • Wang D, Lu Y, Tao L (2017) Thermodynamic analysis of CO2 blends with R41 as an azeotropy refrigerant applied in small refrigerated cabinet and heat pump water heater. Appl Therm Eng 125:1490–1500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang G, Song X, Shi Y, Yulong F, Yang R, Li J (2020) Comparison of production characteristics of various coaxial closed-loop geothermal systems. Energy Convers Manag 225:113437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Wang J, Dai Y, Zhao P (2014) Thermodynamic analysis and optimization of a transcritical CO2 geothermal power generation system based on the cold energy utilization of LNG. Appl Therm Eng 70(1):531–540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westphal D, Weijermars R (2018) Economic appraisal and scoping of geothermal energy extraction projects using depleted hydrocarbon wells. Energ Strat Rev 22:348–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Włodek T (2019) Analysis of boil-off rate problem in liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminals. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci 214(1):012105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao F, Yang L, He L, Gil A, Rajoo S, Zhao Z, Romagnoli A, Cabeza LF (2022) Performance enhancement of horizontal extension and thermal energy storage to an abandoned exploitation well and satellite LNG station integrated ORC system. Appl Therm Eng 214:118736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2022.118736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie K, Nian Y-L, Cheng W-L (2018) Analysis and optimization of underground thermal energy storage using depleted oil wells. Energy 163:1006–1016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Y, Li K, Liu C, Mgijimi MB (2019) Geothermal power production from abandoned oil reservoirs using in situ combustion technology. Energies 12(23):4476

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the "Start-up Funding for New Faculty" provided by the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Airport Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 211106, China

    Fei Xiao

  2. SJ-NTU Corporate Lab, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637335, Singapore

    Fei Xiao & Lizhong Yang

  3. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore, 639798, Singapore

    Zhiye Zhao

Authors
  1. Fei Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhiye Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lizhong Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fei Xiao.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 3.

Table 3 Properties of organic substances used for ORC (Solomon et al. 1994; Bivens 1996; Saleh et al. 2007; Cheng et al. 2014; Kaya et al. 2014; Lehr and Keeley 2016; Lily et al. 2017; Minea 2017; Wang et al. 2017; Włodek 2019)
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xiao, F., Zhao, Z. & Yang, L. Innovative measures for thermal performance enhancement of single well-based deep geothermal systems: existing solutions and some viable options. Geomech. Geophys. Geo-energ. Geo-resour. 8, 137 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-022-00433-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40948-022-00433-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation