Abstract
Use of well doublets for groundwater-sourced heating or cooling typically results in a “thermal plume” of cool or warm reinjected groundwater. Such a plume may be regarded either as a potential anthropogenic geothermal resource or as pollution, depending on downstream aquifer usage. A thermal plume may pose an external risk to downstream users and environmental receptors or an internal risk to the sustainability of the well doublet, due to the phenomenon of thermal feedback. A three-tier assessment of the risk of thermal feedback is proposed, based on: (1) consideration of well separation and yield; (2) analytical modelling of heat migration in a doublet to ascertain breakthrough time and post-breakthrough temperature evolution and (3) numerical modelling of complex scenarios.
Résumé
L’utilisation de puits en doublet avec injection d’eaux chaudes ou froides dans les eaux souterraines a pour conséquence l’existence d’un panache thermique froid ou chaud dans les eaux souterraines. Un tel panache peut être considéré soit comme une ressource géothermique anthropique potentielle, soit comme une pollution, en fonction de l’utilisation de l’aquifère à l’aval hydraulique. Un panache thermique peut engendrer un risque externe pour les usagers de l’eau souterraine à l’aval du point de réinjection ainsi que pour les récepteurs environnementaux et un risque interne pour la durabilité du puits doublet, lié aux phénomènes de réactions thermales. Une tierce évaluation du risque des réactions thermales est proposée, basée sur : (1) la considération de la séparation du puits et de sa production ; (2) un modèle analytique de la migration de la chaleur dans un doublet afin de définir le temps de restitution et l’évolution de la température après restitution et (3) un modèle numérique pour des scénarios complexes.
Resumen
El uso de pozos pares para calentamiento o enfriamiento de las aguas subterráneas típicamente da como resultado una “pluma térmica” de frío o calor en el agua subterráneas reinyectada. Tal pluma puede ser vista como un recurso geotérmico potencial de origen antrópico o como una contaminación, dependiendo del uso del acuífero aguas abajo. Una pluma térmica puede presentar un riesgo externo a los usuarios y receptores ambientales aguas abajo o un riesgo interno para la sustentabilidad de los pozos pares, debido al fenómeno de realimentación térmica. Se propone una evaluación de riesgo de nivel 3 de la realimentación térmica, basada en: (1) consideración de la separación entre los pozos y el rendimiento; (2) modelado analítico de la migración del calor para determinar el tiempo de ruptura y post ruptura de la evolución de la temperatura y (3) modelado numérico de escenarios complejos.
Resumo
A utilização de dispositivos de pares de poços para aquecimento ou arrefecimento de ambientes com base na circulação de água subterrânea em aquíferos provoca tradicionalmente uma pluma de água subterrânea fria ou quente re-injectada. Essa pluma pode ser considerada quer como um potencial recurso geotérmico antropogénico ou como um foco de poluição, dependendo do uso que se quiser dar ao aquífero a jusante do local de operação. Essa pluma térmica pode originar um risco externo aos utilizadores que estão a jusante e aos receptores ambientais ou um risco interno à sustentabilidade do dispositivo, devido a um fenómeno de resposta térmica. Neste trabalho é proposta uma metodologia de avaliação do risco térmico, que engloba 3 fases, baseadas na: (1) consideração da separação entre os poços e a sua produtividade; (2) modelação analítica do fenómeno de migração de calor no dispositivo de par de poços, de modo a determinar o tempo de ruptura e a evolução da temperatura pós-ruptura e (3) modelação numérica de cenários complexos
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Banks, D. Thermogeological assessment of open-loop well-doublet schemes: a review and synthesis of analytical approaches. Hydrogeol J 17, 1149–1155 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0427-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0427-6