Geothermal Energy can be defined as the form of heat energy which is derived from Earth's rocks and fluid in the Earth's crust.
Formation of Geothermal energy Resources
How does geothermal energy resources form?
Geothermal energy resources start to form when molten rocks (magma) from the deep inner part of the Earth's core penetrate to the upper crust of the Earth and heat the surrounding rocks.
In the presence of geological structures such as Fractures, faults, minor lineaments, and pore spaces in the surrounding (sedimentary) rocks can favors the seepage and circulation of rainwater into deep hot part of the Earth and become heated and develop a Geothermal (resources) system. The energy that can be trapped from this system is known as Geothermal Energy.
Why is geothermal energy recommended?
Advantages of using geothermal energy
The following are 4 reasons for why you should utilize energy extracted from these resources,
1. Clean energy source
It is an environmentally friendly source, because it doesn't produce significant pollution.
2. Viable
It occurs in a vast deposits and regenerative source.
3. Renewable energy
It can be replenished after it has been exploited over time. So it can meet the demand for future generations.
4. No need for preliminary fuel source
Unlike fossils and nuclear derived energy they use Fossil and nuclear fuels respectively to heat water to produce steam, geothermal energy uses already available steam from Earth's interior, hence no need of fuel source.
Apart from its sustainability, geothermal energy has some disadvantages (limitation) as described below,
Disadvantages (limitation) of using Geothermal energy
1. High running costs
This leads to high initial investment risk for instance costs in drilling wells, building and installation of plants and systems. So significance research should be prior conducted
2. It may trigger induced earthquakes
Example over extraction of steam may lead into subsidence, that may cause Induced earthquakes. Also in minor cases its emission of CO2 and H2S gases may cause air pollution.
3. Site specific source
Although there is a wide distribution of these resources, most of the significant resources are located in low temperature (cold) regions, because these areas provide sufficient temperature gradient for extraction of steam. Also places such as hilly or mountainous areas are not favorable for the installation of power plants.
4. Distribution issues
Sources of energy (steam) can not easily be transported from production plants to long distant areas. Unlike other energy sources such as coal , oil can be easily transported to distant areas at affordable prices. This made fossil fuels save a greater population over a wide distributed area than geothermal energy.
Geothermal Indicators
Any feature on Earth's surface that may signify the existence of a geothermal system. System can either be active, dying or died, However in some cases the absence of any indicator does not necessarily mean the absence of the geothermal system due to variation in occurances an interpretation of the signatures.
The following are common Geothermal manifestations (indicators) which may be associated with these resources.
i/ Thermal Springs and Geysers
Hot spring is natural outflow of water of elevated temperature from ground while geyser is the pressurized flow of hot spring in the form of gases.
ii/ Boiling (mud) Pools
These are hot or cool bubbling of mud stream beds and swamps. Sometimes it consists of degassing of a magmatic body (heat source) at the subsurface.
iii/ Altered ground (Fluid rocks)
Alteration of the fluid rocks depends on temperature, chemistry of fluid and primary rocks, permeability and duration at which the changes occur.
iv/ Others indicators and scientific phenomena
These includes the presence of the following
- Young volcanic systems, Recent volcanic activity such as eruptions, magmatic activity, tectonic movements, High geothermal gradients, Gas like Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S).
Uses of Geothermal Energy
Like other sources of energy also geothermal energy can be used as
i/ Direct use
This is one of the primary applications of this energy since the early century, Foristance hot spring can provide heat for industrial and domestic heating purposes. A well is drilled into a geothermal reservoir to provide a steady stream of hot water, which is then channeled into pumps and pipes for heating purposes.
ii/ Generation of electricity
This is nowadays and future major application of this energy, where the trapped steam or hot water is applied to rotate the turbines, that in turn rotates the generator and hence produces electricity.
Types of Geothermal Power Plant
Production of electricity from this energy becomes the major use of these resources nowadays and in the near future.
However when it comes to utilization of this energy in production (generation) of electricity, Plants should be installed so that you can trap the steam or hot water to be used to rotate the turbines, that in turn rotates the generator and hence produces electricity.
Geothermal Power Plant
What is a Geothermal Power Plant?
A Geothermal Power Plant can be defined as the production system consisting of various tools and equipment such as turbines, pumps, tanks, generators that is used to generate electricity from geothermal resources.
There are mainly three (3) types of Geothermal Power Plants that are commonly used in electricity generation. These power plants depend on reservoir temperature, pressures and fluid contents.
1. Dry steam plants
These are the oldest type of geothermal plants that work by directly drawing out the steam produced below the Earth's surface.
They are applied at high temperature reservoirs about 250°c. The steam is piped directly from the Production well to the plant where it enters the turbine. The steam turns a turbine which turns a generator, the steam is then condensed and returned to the reservoir through injection well.
You can Look at the figure 1 as shown below to have more insight.
Figure 1: Simple Dry - steam Power Plant
2. Flash steam plants
These plants draw the hot water out from the Earth's surface. When the water is moving upwards, the pressure decreases and thus, steam is released.The leftover water and any condensed steam is then injected back to the reservoir.
Due to its sustainability, it is the most commonly used plant. You can look at figure 2 as shown below, so that you can understand more.
Figure 2: Simple Flash steam Plant
3. Binary cycle Plants
Binary cycle plants use the heat from the hot water to boil a working fluid, usually an organic compound with a low boiling point. The working fluid is vaporized in a heat exchanger and used to turn a turbine. The water is then injected back into the ground to be reheated. The water and the working fluid are kept separated during the whole process, so there are little or no air emissions.
Figure 3: Simple Binary Cycle Plant
Point to note regarding these power plants is that we can't totally say that only these will prosper for a long upcoming (future) period, since the global transformation to clean energy environment will favor more rapid advancement and innovation of these technologies.
However these are the basic ground and mostly used nowadays in extracting these resources,
This is just the basic insight of geothermal energy including its formation, power plants, uses, indicators, advantages and disadvantages (limitation).
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BASIC RESISTIVITY EQUIPMENTS and TOOLS
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