Analele Universităţii din Oradea Fascicula de Energetică, Vol.

15 2009

EXPERIMENTAL MODELS TO USE GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Cornel ANTAL, Aurel SETEL, Ovidiu GAVRILESCU,
University of Oradea, Universităţii Nr1, Oradea,
cantal@uoradea.ro

Abstract - Geothermal energy may be used in

several fields (figure 1). Practically, whenever a
relatively low temperature (below 150°C) is needed,
it can be provided by geothermal water. Depending
on the structure of the industrial process,
geothermal energy may be either independent or
combined with caloric energy of different origins
(fossil fuel, electricity, bioenergy, etc.).
For a maximum efficient use of geothermal energy,
the following experimental models have been
created: pre-drying and drying wood materials and
berries installations; Heat point for space heating
and preparation of domestic hot water.

Key words - Models, use, energy, geothermal

EXPERIMENTAL MODELS TO USE

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Once the technological development, direct use of
geothermal energy to heat living area and provide
heating in industrial processes has become possible. In
Europe, geothermal energy is still rarely used and is
confined to merely a few countries.

1. FIELDS OF USE

There are several fields in which geothermal

energy may be used (figure 1). Practically, geothermal
water can be used whenever a relatively low
temperature is needed (below 150°C). Depending on
the structure of the industrial process, geothermal
energy may be used either independently or combined
with caloric energy of different origins (fossil fuel,
electricity, bioenergy, etc.).
Fig. 1 - Geothermal energy use in industrial and
agricultural processes

2. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY APPLICATIONS

IN BASIC INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES

In industrial applications, geothermal energy

provided by a geothermal fluid of up to 150°C is used in
basic processes, such as: preheating, sterilisation,
vaporisation, freezing, washing, drying, distillation,
shucking, etc.

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2.1 Elements specific to geothermal technology
with industrial application
The technological unit needed for a geothermal
system with industrial application is made up of two main
parts.
The former includes the general elements belonging
to geothermal systems, that is:
♦ Geothermal well
♦ Connector to the geothermal well or a distribution
network
♦ Fluid piping
♦ Chemical water treatment equipment
♦ Heat shifting system
The latter part of the technological unit is made up of
elements specific to geothermal energy industrial
application, as follows:
• Steam extraction system;
• Geothermal fluid climbing system;
• Equipment to alter working parameters (pressure,
temperature and flow);
• Processing devices to implement technological
processes.
In order to use geothermal energy as energy source in
industrial processes as a consequence of physical-
chemical properties of geothermal fluid, materials
appropriate to geothermal water have to be used in
installations to build the specific equipments in order to
avoid corrosion.
High salt geothermal fluids will cause high uniform
and local corrosion thus limiting the use of carbon steels.
The use of “soft” steel in geothermal environments needs
- CV1÷CV4 electrically managed taps for
geothermal water circuit, CV5÷CV8 respectively for
agent circuit for pre-drying or drying installation it serves;
- TT1÷TT4, Tx1÷Tx4 temperature transducer;
- H1÷H4 hydrophore system (endowed with
(C1÷C4 compressors and P5÷P8 completion pumps).
The thermic agent used is geothermal water from a
geothermal drilling (85°C, 30 l/s artesian debit). The
system is provided with a pressure transducer of TP1
pressure and an electrically managed tap CV0. An “axis”
type depth pump is installed in the well that is placed at
90 m depth and stimulated by a 65 kW electrical engine
(manufactured by General Motors, USA) lying on the
upper side of the pump-axis aggregate. The system also
includes the following:
a) a 300 m3 buffer tank placed right near the well station
whose aim is to disperse gas and make the system work
steadily;
b) pumping unit placed near the well station that is
equipped with two Grundfos pumps and other auxiliary
equipments. The pumping unit has to provide geothermal
water by meeting the debit and pressure requirements for
downstream equipments.
The system works in both i) “artesian conditions”, in
which case well station distributes geothermal water
directly to the main piping system, and ii) “pumping
conditions”, in which case well unit distributes
geothermal water to the buffer tank nearby, while
pumping unit takes over the water from the tank and
pumps it in the main pipeline whence it is distributed to
different consumers.
C 4

precautions, that is, ventilation, debit, fluctuation, external

H 4
P 8

surface protection have to be considered.

P 4

If the required precautions have been taken, carbon

M
CV8 TTx4 USCA RE
FR UC TE
SC 4 D E PA D UR E

steels can be used for thick-walled installations for most CV4

TT4

C 3

geothermal fluids. Thin-walled installations will be M H 3

P 3
P 7

limited because there is the risk that the material might be M

PR EU S C A RE

corroded or cracked.
CV7 T Tx3
FR U C TE
SC 3 D E PA D U R E

TT3

CV3 C 2
H 2
M P 6
P 2

3. BEST CHOICES TO USE GEOTHERMAL SC 2

CV6
M
TTx2 USCA RE
M A T E R IA L

RESOURCES
LEM N OS
TT2

CV2
C 1
M H 1 P 5

P 1

For maximum efficiency in using geothermal energy, the M

TT x1

following experimental models have been carried out.

CV5 PR EU SCA RE
M A T E R IA L u tiliz a re în c a s c a d ã s a u re in je c tie
SC 1
LEM NOS
TT1

CV1
M
REZERVOR TAM PON

3.1. Wood materials and berries pre-drying and

S T A Ţ IA D E
POM PARE

LT1 FORAJ GEOTERM ALĂ

drying installations PT1

P 3 TP0

300m p
P 4

The constructive-functional layout for wood materials and CV0

berries pre-drying and drying system as shown in Figure 2 P 2

is made up of the following elements:

►Wood waste pre-drying installation; P 1

►Wood waste drying installation;

►Berries pre-drying installation; F o ra j g e o te rm a l 9 5 °C ,
d e b it a rte z ia n 1 5 l / s

► Berries drying installation.

Each installation is provided with the following: Fig.2 - Constructive-functional layout for wood
- Heat exchanger (SC1÷SC4) to prepare the agent material and berried pre-drying and drying system
for pre-drying or drying installation it serves; Design calculations
- P1÷P4 circulation pumps; Design data

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The constructive-functional design for wood material Table 2 - Ag coefficient values

and berries pre-drying and drying system by using Thickn Coeffic Thicknes Coefficient Thick Coeff
geothermal water as thermic agent is proposed. ess ient s Ag ness icient
mm Ag mm mm Ag
Wood quantity: 16 m³ 13 0 45 54 110 110
Type of wood: beech 16 9 50 59 120 116
Berry quantity: 800 kg 19 16 55 65 130 121
Type of berries: mushrooms, box thorn, etc. 22 23 60 70 140 125
Geothermal water temperature: 95°C 25 28 70 80 150 130
30 36 80 89 180 142
Air temperature for wood pre-drying: 60°C 35 43 90 97 220 155
Air temperature for wood drying: 80°C 40 49 100 104 280 170
Air temperature for berries pre-drying: 50°
Air temperature for berries drying: 70° For different wood materials, Ag coefficient value
Technological calculation needed for pre-drying can be reduced depending on their seemingly specific
installation sizing putting or weight coefficient.
Ag=49 is chosen for the calculation.
Settling wood pre-drying and drying conditions A1 coefficient is chosen depending on the ratio
A relatively accurate method to settle the pre-drying between width and thickness of the material layer in the
duration in days is “S” coefficient sum. The method helps table
settling material pre-drying duration including duration Table 3 - A1 coefficient values
for initial heating, final treatment and material cooling L/g 1,0- 1,4- 2,1- 4,1- 7,1-15,0
based on the following formula: ratio 1,3 2,0 4,0 7,0
A1 0 5 9 14 18
S= As+ Ag+ A1+ Ak+ Ac+ Au Species Fir- Pine, Birch Beech, Oa
tree, cedar, larch k
The use of this formula involves previous knowledge spruce white
on the difficulty level of pre-drying conditions, a poplar,
aspen
parameter that can be determined depending on the As 0 4 25 45 71
psychometric difference expressed through the interval values
between relative air temperature and humidity at entrance
and exit of material mass subject to drying. The difficulty A1=2 is chosen for the calculation.
level of pre-drying conditions depending on material Ak coefficient is chosen depending on the pre-drying
humidity and psychometric difference can be settled quality taken from table 4.1, a parameter used in the table.
pretty accurately on the basis of table data.
Table 4 - Ak coefficient values
Table 1 - Guidelines to settle pre-drying conditions Pre- VI-IV III II I
difficulty level drying
Psychometric difference °C for humidity levels quality
Diffic Bel 10- 15- 20- 25- Over Ak 0 5 9 20
ulty ow 15 20 25 30 30%
level 10 % % % % Ak=20 is chosen for the calculation.
% Ac coefficient depends on pre-drying chamber
I 27 22 15 11 8 6 features.
II 25 20 14 10 6 4
III 25 18 12 9 5 3 Table 5 - Ac coefficient values
IV 25 16 11 7 4 2 High thermic capacity chamber with 0
V 20 14 10 6 4 2 transversal-reversible air circulation
VI 18 12 8 5 3 2 Regular thermic capacity chamber with 18
transversal-reversible air circulation
For subsequent calculations in the table, the I Natural or low stimulation circulation 27
difficulty level corresponding to the 30% psychometric chamber
difference will be chosen. Heated chamber with horizontal channels 33
“As” coefficient is chosen from the table depending with natural circulation
on the wood species or product from that particular
species. Ac=18 is chosen for the calculation.
Au coefficient depends on initial and final
As coefficient values humidity of the material; the values of this coefficient are
As=45 corresponding to the beech material is chosen provided in the table.
for calculations.
Ag coefficient is chosen depending on the thickness Au coefficient values
of the material or layer of material subject to pre-drying in Au=70 is chosen for the calculations.
the table below: => S=204
Material drying duration in days

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Time-oriented drying conditions provide special

convenience in exploiting drying installations. Besides
the method as shown when settling drying conditions,
the decreasing humidity or internal material tension
criterion can be used.

3.2. Heat point to heat spaces and prepare

domestic water

The constructive-functional system of the Heat

point is shown in Figure 3.
The heating and domestic water preparation system is
made up of the following:
■ a 300 m3 buffer tank placed immediately near the
well unit whose role is to disperse gas and make the
system work steadily;
■ pumping unit placed near well unit equipped with
two Grundfos pumps and other necessary auxiliary
equipments.
The role of the pumping unit is to provide
geothermal water with the debit and pressure needed
for downstream equipment. The system works both in
“artesian conditions”, in which case the well unit
distributes geothermal water directly in the main
distribution pipeline system, as well as in “pumping
conditions”, in which case the well unit distributes
geothermal water to the buffer tank nearby, while
pumping unit takes over the water in the tank and
pumps it in the main pipeline whence it is distributed
to different consumers.
■ Heat point as such (Figure 7) whose role is to heat
Table 6 - Correlation between “S” and “D” the buildings (DH-district heating) and to provide
coefficients domestic water (DHW-domestic hot water).
S D S D S D S D These two heating processes are carried out
133 2,0 163 4,0 187 7,0 212 12,5 indirectly, that is, geothermal water is indirectly used
135 2,1 164 4,1 188 7,2 214 13,0
in board heat shifts, where it gives thermic energy to
137 2,2 165 4,2 190 7,4 216 13,5
the heating thermic agent.
Thermically used geothermal water resulting from
139 2,3 166 4,3 191 7,6 217 14,0
both heating processes leaves the unit through a single
141 2,4 167 4,4 192 7,8 219 14,5
pipe; it may be distributed to other unexpected
143 2,5 168 4,5 193 8,0 220 15,0 consumers.
144 2,6 169 4,6 194 8,2 222 15,5 The DH network is a closed system directly
146 2,7 170 4,7 195 8,4 223 16,0 connected to elements in buildings and where heated
148 2,8 171 4,8 196 8,6 224 16,5 water circulates in shifts in boards. The average
149 2,9 172 4,9 197 8,8 226 17,0 heating period is 172 days/year, usually in October 15
151 3,0 173 5,0 198 9,0 227 17,5 – April 15. The principle used to heat buildings is the
152 3,1 174 5,2 199 9,2 228 18,0 so-called “steady debit with variable temperature”
principle. The circulation pumps work at a steady
153 3,2 175 5,4 200 9,4 229 18,5
revolution all the time thus preserving the debit in the
155 3,3 176 5,6 201 9,6 231 19,0
network and elements in the rooms.
156 3,4 179 5,8 202 9,8 232 19,5
The DHW network is a system where water
157 3,5 181 6,0 203 10,0 233 20,0 coming from the domestic water (CW-cold water)
158 3,6 183 6,2 205 10,5 235 21,0 circulates being heated before being distributed in heat
160 3,7 184 6,4 207 11,0 237 22,0 shifts by geothermal water. The system works
161 3,8 185 6,6 209 11,5 239 23,0 ceaselessly all through the year.
162 3,9 186 6,8 211 12,0 241 24,0

If we apply the formula, the result is that the wood

pre-drying duration exemplified by “D” is D=10 days.

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.tot = 2.420 .000 kcal / h ( 2.870 kW )

h
A P A P O T A B IL A
D E L A H ID R O F O R
Qinc

The chosen back and forth temperature for

WT1
AS3 TS3
TT13
CV6 secondary agent is 45°C, 30°C respectively, in which
case the debit needed by secondary agent is the
FT4
TT14
following:
FT6 PT8

A L IM E N T A R E C U DHW
CV5 h
A PA G EO TE RM AL Ă
M
TT6 Qinc 2.420.000
TT12
&sec=
m .tot
= =160m3 / h =45l / s
PT7 c⋅(tsies−tsin) 1000⋅(45−30)
M
TT7
CV3
D EV ER SA R E CV4
M

A PA G EO TER M ALĂ
U Z A T A T E R M IC
Considering that the primary agent debit
(geothermal water) is 170 m3/h (47,5l/s) with a
TT4 PT3
tpin=50°C entrance temperature, the exit temperature in
CV2
heat shift tpies (discharge) of geothermal water and the
M

TT8 TT5 needed heat exchange surface Snec (the two working
fluids have to circulate against the current) are
CW CI TT9 PT6 determined.
PS4
P9 P8 h
Qinc 2.420.000
P7 P6 P5 t pies = t pin − .tot
= 50 − = 35°C
FT9 m& p ⋅ c 170 ⋅1000
TT11

FT3 PT4 TT10 PT6

DH In order to determine the surface needed for heat
exchange (Snec), we will consider a heat shift with a
Fig. 3 - Constructive-functional system of the Heat
global heat shift coefficient K = 2,5 kW / m2 K ;
point
under the circumstances, the following results:
NOTATIONS:
DH – heating; DHW – domestic hot water; h
Qinc 2.870
FT – debit transducer; TT – temperature transducer; S nec = .tot
= = 230 m 2
PT – pressure transducer; K ⋅ Δt med 2,5 ⋅ 5
WT – wind speed transducer; where:
TS, PS, AS – temperature, pressure and humidity
warning
Δtmed =
(t pin − t sies ) + (t pies − tsin )
= 5°C
In order to make an analysis of the Heat point, we
have to point out thermic energy needed and weather 2
conditions specific to the area.
The thermic power needed for a steady internal The main parameters of the Heat point are as follows:
temperature depends on climate conditions (external − 8.600.000 kcal/h (10.000 kWt) installed power;
temperature, wind speed, humidity, etc.) specific to the − Total built volume that needs to be heated:
area where the Heat point is designed. The external 220.000 m3;
(air) temperature text is the main parameter determining − Domestic water debit 21 m3/h;
the power needed. The influence of wind speed wv, − Heat delivered annually to heat spaces: 14.000Gcal
when considerable (>2 m/s), on heat needed to heat the (5.000Gcal for future constructions);
rooms determines, under the circumstances, the − Heat delivered annually to prepare domestic hot
calculation of an equivalent external temperature water: 9.200Gcal;
text.echiv that will replace in calculations the working of − Geothermal water annual consumption: 465.000
the Heat point, external temperature; the equivalent m3 ;
external temperature is calculated according to the − Back and forth temperature for geothermal water:
following formula: 85/35°C.
We have to mention that 35°C geothermal water
text.echiv. = text −[1+ 0,022⋅ (text −10,4)]⋅ (1,94⋅ wv )
0,5 leaving the Heat point may be subsequently used in
cascade with balneological or fishery applications.
The main aim of the calculations is to get an
annual estimate of energy consumed for heating and
preparation of domestic water. REFERENCES

Design calculations [1]. Athanasovici, V. (1981): Termoenergetică industrială şi

termoficare, Editura Didactică şi Pedagogică, 1981.
TOTAL HOURLY HEAT CONSUMPTION FOR [2]. Batik, H. , Kocak, A., Akkus, I., Simsek.S., Mertoglu,
HEATING (POWER NEEDED) O.,Dokuz, I., and Bakir., N.(2000). Geothermal energy

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Analele Universităţii din Oradea Fascicula de Energetică, Vol. 15 2009

utilisation development in Turkey. World Geothermal
Congress, WGC2000, CD-ROM, p.85-91.
[3]. Carabogdan, I.Ghe. ş.a. (1986): Manualul inginerului
termotehnician, Editura Tehnică, Bucureşti, 1986.
[4]. Fridleifsson, B. (2001): Geothermal energy for the
benefit of the people, European Summer School on
Geothermal Energy Applications, Oradea, 2001.
[5]. Gunnarsson A., Helgason Th., Gavriş M., Antal C.
(1996): University of Oradea. The Geothermal Plant.
SCADA System Description, Oradea, 1996.

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