A management model is developed that determines the optimum economic recoverability of a particular hot -water geothermal reservoir undergoing exploitation for electric power generation. The management model integrates a physical model of the reservoir that predicts the areas of pressure decline due to withdrawals, and pressure rise due to reinjection of spent fluid, with a model of a two -stage steam turbine power plant that determines the quantity of electricity generated for a rate of hot -water extraction. Capital costs, variable costs and annual fixed costs are obtained for the reservoir development, extraction and reinjection, the transmission system, and the power plant. Revenues are determined for electrical power production. Application of the management model to a simplified, yet realistic example reservoir demonstrates that the methodology developed in this report can be used for analyzing the management of an integrated geothermal reservoir-power plant system.

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This thesis analyses long term and short term environmental effects on geothermal power plant performance and discusses adaptive ways to improve performance. Mokai 1 geothermal power plant has been used as a case study for this investigation. Mokai 1 is a combined cycle plant where the binary cycles are air-cooled. The plant performance of an air-cooled binary cycle geothermal power plant is dependent on the environment (resource characteristics as well as weather conditions). For modelling such a power plant, two time scales are of interest: the yearly basis for aggregate plant performance for design and operations; and the daily basis for hourly plant performances for an accurate dispatch prediction. Adaptive methodology for long term performance improvement has been introduced in this work which would save money and effort in the future by keeping the provisions to adapt to changes in resource characteristics based on geothermal reservoir modelling. The investigation was carried out using a steady state computer simulator of Mokai 1 geothermal power plant. The steady sate simulator was built specifically for this work. The deviation in performance of various components is less than 5% compared to the original plant design. The model is very generic and it can be used for other plants with simple adaptation or can be used for future plant design. One of the main contributions of this work is an iterative method for modelling the environmental effect on short term performance on the air-cooled organic Rankine cycle. The ambient temperature is identified as the most influencing parameter on short term performance which influences the performance of the whole cycle in two ways. Firstly, by changing the equilibrium pressure inside the condenser, the turbine outlet pressure changes and hence, the turbine pressure ratio also changes. The turbine pressure ratio is a major parameter determining power generated by a turbine; therefore, the plant output is affected. Secondly, by changing the condenser outlet temperature with the ambient temperature, the pump inlet and outlet condition and consequently vaporizer equilibrium temperature and pressure are influenced. The developed method sought the equilibrium conditions of both condenser and vaporizer iteratively. In short, ORC cycle shifts on the T-s plane depending on the ambient temperature. This method iteratively seeks the shifted ORC on the T,s plane. Two case studies have been carried out to demonstrate the method. The developed method shows robustness and converges exponentially. The model is effective for cycles that use saturated vapour as well as superheated vapour. The model essentially assumes steady state operation of the power cycle. The possible unit time where this model can be applied is bounded by the time required by a system to come into steady state. The saturated vapour cycle yielded average error 4.20% with maximum error 9.25% and the superheated vapour cycle yielded average error 2.12% with maximum error 5.60%. The main advantage of the developed method is that it requires a minimum number of inputs: condenser (p,T), vaporizer (p,T), condenser heat load, turbine efficiency (overall), pump work and the extremum conditions of all the components. These inputs should represent typical operating conditions of a plant. The model can predict the appropriate plant performance depending on the system heat input (geothermal fluid flow in this case) and the heat sink temperature. As the method is based on basic thermodynamics rather than empirical or semi-empirical approaches, this method is widely applicable. The main focus of this work is on the ORC but the developed method is applicable to any closed Rankine cycle. In addition, application of the developed iterative method to predict plant performance based on mean yearly weather data is also discussed in the thesis. Water-augmented cooling system and optimization of plant operating point parameters have been proposed as adaptive measures to improve short term performance. Developed iterative method has been used for the short term performance analysis. The water-augmented cooling system is specifically suitable to mitigate the reduced power output during the summer. The simulated average gain in power during the summer (Jan, Feb, Nov and Dec) of an ORC of Mokai 1 geothermal power plant by incorporating a water-augmented cooling system was 2.3% and the average gain for the whole year was 1.6% based on the weather data of Taupo for the year 2005. A cost benefit analysis showed that water-augmented cooling system is more economical compared to other alternative renewable energies considered to meet summer peak demand. From the green house gas emissions perspective, water-augmented cooling is a better option than the gas fired peaking plants. Adaptive approach for short term performance improvement by optimizing operating point parameters of an air-cooled binary cycle has huge potential with possible maximum improvement in power output by about 50%. The optimization takes in to account the effects of the geothermal resource characteristics and the weather conditions. The optimization is achieved by manipulating cycle mass flow rate and vaporizer equilibrium condition. Further study on the optimizing operating points to achieve improved short term performance has been recommended for future work.

Although there is no obvious reason why seismic 6-value and the spatial fractal dimension of earthquakes, D, should be related, there are several reports of observed empirical correlations between these two quantities. In order to investigate this phenomenon, and attempt to relate it to different types of earthquakes, industrially induced seismicity in The Geysers geothermal area, California and earthquake swarms in Long Valley caldera, California were analysed. Raw seismograms from the Unocal-NEC-Thermal network in The Geysers were processed automatically, calculating magnitudes from coda lengths and locating them using a three-dimensional velocity model. Seismicity correlated with the locations of commercial wells and surface fault locations. The entire Geysers dataset was too complex for clear correlations between b, D, seismicity and injection to be observed. In several cases, short pulses of injection induced bursts of seismicity of either small-magnitude, clustered events or large-magnitude diffuse seismicity, resulting always in a transient anomaly of negative b/D. However, sometimes pulses of injection were not accompanied by b/D transients and sometimes b/D transients were not accompanied by known injection. The latter cases may or may not indicate undisclosed injection activity. A seismic crisis in Long Valley caldera was associated with major b/D anomalies that accompanied migration of the activity from a hydrothermal zone on the south edge of the resurgent dome to the right-lateral, blind, near-vertical South Moat fault to the immediate south. The results indicated that the hydrothermal zone is an inhomogeneous structure whereas the South Moat has a mature, coherent fault plane, capable of generating magnitude M = 6 earthquakes and posing a threat to the town of Mammoth Lakes.

Thesis (M.Eng.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2005. / Bibliography: leaves 88-91.

There are many sources of free energy available in the form of heat that is often simply wasted for want of an effective way to convert it into useful energy such as electricity. The aim of this research project is to design and build a low temperature differential Stirling engine capable of generating electric power from heat sources such as waste hot water or geothermal springs. The engine that has been developed is a research prototype model of a new type of design featuring a rotating displacer which is actuated by a pair of stepper motors. The rotating displacer design enables the use of readily available and comparatively cheap and robust steam pipe as the housing for the engine, and it also avoids problems associated with sealing and heat exchange that would be present in a large engine of a more traditional configuration. Owing to the fact that this engine is a research prototype, it has the ability to have some of its critical operating parameters such as phase angle and stroke length adjusted to investigate the effects on performance. When the next phase of development takes place most of these parameters will be fixed at the optimum values which will make manufacture cheaper and easier. Unfortunately, construction of the prototype engine has not been completed at the time of writing so no power producing results have been achieved; however thorough results are presented on the operation of the control system for the stepper motors which actuate the displacer. Additionally, after a thorough history and background of Stirling engines was researched, the understanding gained of how these engines work has enabled a design process to take place which has hopefully led to a successful design. Analysis of various aspects of the engine have been carried out and results look promising for the engine to produce around 500 Watts of electrical power output whilst running on hot water up to around 90°C.

This thesis examines the energy return on investment (EROI) of a model 3 MW hybrid gas-geothermal plant on the Texas Gulf Coast. The model plant uses a design similar to the DOE Pleasant Bayou No. 2 test geothermal plant, and uses a gas engine to harness entrained methane and an Organic Rankine Cycle turbine to harness thermal energy from hot brines. The indirect energy cost was calculated using the Carnegie Mellon University Economic Input-Output Life Environmental Life Cycle Analysis (EIO-LCA) model. The EROI of the plant using the 1997 EIO-LCA energy data is 12.40, and the EROI of the plant using 2002 EIO-LCA energy data is 14.18. Sensitivity analysis was run to determine how the plant parameters affect the EROI. A literature review of the EROI of different power sources shows that the EROI of the hybrid geothermal plant is greater than the EROI of flash steam geothermal and solar, but is lower than the EROI of dry steam geothermal, wind power, nuclear, coal, gas, and hydroelectric plants. An analysis of the EROI to financial return on investment (FROI) shows that the FROI for a hybrid geothermal plant could be competitive with wind and solar as a viable renewable resource in the Texas electricity market. / text

Darbe projektuojama geoterminė jėgainė, kuri tiekia šiluminę energiją pastatų grupei. Darbą sudaro įvadas, keturi skyriai, išvados ir rekomendacijos bei literatūros sąrašas. Įvade pateikta nagrinėjamos temos problema, aktualumas, darbo tikslai ir uždaviniai bei praktinė darbo vertė. Pirmajame skyriuje pateikiami projektiniai duomenys pastatų grupei Tauragės miesto pavyzdžiu, aprašomi geoterminės energijos tipai bei jos panaudojimas pasaulyje ir Lietuvoje. Antrajame skyriuje analizuojamas Lietuvos geoterminis laukas bei parenkama projektuojamos geoterminės stoties vieta. Analizuojamos UAB „Geoterma“ iškilusios problemos ir nustatomos jų priežastys. Trečiajame skyriuje atliekamas metinio šilumos poreikio modeliavimas bei trijų energijos šaltinių techninis vertinimas kompiuterine programa EnergyPRO. Ketvirtajame skyriuje energijos šaltiniai vertinami ekonominiu ir aplinkosauginiu požiūriu, taip pat atliekama jautrumo analizė bei aprašomos prielaidos, naudotos darbe. Išanalizavus pastatų grupės energijos poreikius, atlikus techninius energijos šaltinių vertinimus ir reikalingus skaičiavimus šilumos gamybos galimybėms įvertinti, teikiamos išvados ir rekomendacijos. Pridedama: trijų energijos šaltinių schemos. Darbo apimtis – 65 p. be priedų, 35 pav., 15 lent., 19 literatūros šaltinių. / There is designed geothermal power plant that supplies thermal energy group of buildings in this paper. The work consists of four chapters, conclusions, recommendations and references. The introduction is about the problem of the topic, the relevance, the work goals, objectives and the practical value of the work. The first chapter provides design details of buildings group using Taurage's city example, describes the types of geothermal energy and its use in the world and in Lithuania. The second chapter analyzes the Lithuanian geothermal area, also the place for designed geothermal station is selected. Analyze the problems encountered in Geoterma company and identify their causes. There is modeling an annual heat demand and performed the three technical evaluation of energy sources with a computer program EnergyPRO. There is assessed the economic sources from energy and environmental point of view in the fourth chapter. As well sensitivity analysis is produced and description of the assumptions used in the workplace. After the analysis of the building group's energy needs and performed technical evaluations and calculations of energy sources necessary to evaluate the heat generation ability, findings and recommendations are provided. Enclosure: energy sources schemes. Working volume - 65 pages without additives, 35 pic., 15 tables, 19 references.

The aim of this master's thesis is to create a project of a small power plant in the Czech republic, which would be powered by geothermal energy as a renewable energy source. Followed by evaluation of economic effectiveness and return of that investment. For which I use known methods for evaluation and investment decision making.

The change in climate as a consequence of anthropogenic activities is a subject ofmajor concerns. In order to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions inthe atmosphere, the utilization of renewable, fossil-free power generationapplications becomes inevitable. Geothermal and solar energy play a major rolein covering the increased demand for renewable energy sources of today’s andfuture’s society. A special focus hereby lies on the Concentrating Solar Powertechnologies and different geothermal concepts. The costs for producingelectricity through Concentrating Solar Power and therefore Parabolic Trough Collectorsas well as geothermal conversion technologies are still comparatively high. Inorder to minimize these expenses and maximize the cycle’s efficiency, thepossible synergies of a hybridization of these two technologies becomeapparent. This thesis therefore investigates the thermodynamic and economicbenefits and drawbacks of this combination from a global perspective. For that,a Parabolic Trough Collector system is combined with the geothermal conversionconcepts of Direct Steam, Single and Double Flash, Organic Rankine as well asKalina Cycles. The solar integrations under investigation are Superheat,Preheat and Superheat & Reheat of the geothermal fluid. The thermodynamicanalysis focuses on the thermal and utilization efficiencies, as well as therequired Parabolic Trough Collector area. The results indicate that in the caseof the Superheat and Superheat & Reheat setup, the thermal efficiency canbe improved for all geothermal concepts in comparison to their correspondinggeothermal stand-alone case. The Preheat cases, with the major contributionfrom solar energy, are not able to improve the cycle’s thermal efficiencyrelative to the reference setup. From an exergy perspective the findings varysignificantly depending on the applied boundary conditions. Still, almost allcases were able to improve the cycle’s performance compared to the referencecase. For the economic evaluation, the capital investment costs and thelevelized costs of electricity are studied. The capital costs increasesignificantly when adding solar energy to the geothermal cycle. The levelizedelectricity costs could not be lowered for any hybridization case compared tothe reference only-geothermal configurations. The prices vary between20.04 €/MWh and 373.42 €/MWh. When conducting a sensitivity analysison the solar system price and the annual mean irradiance, the Kalina Superheatand Superheat & Reheat, as well as the Organic Rankine Preheathybridizations become cost competitive relative to the reference cases.Concluding, it is important to remark, that even if the hybridization of the ParabolicTrough and the different geothermal concepts makes sense from a thermodynamicperspective, the decisive levelized costs of electricity could not be improved.It is, however, possible that these costs can be further reduced under speciallocal conditions, making the addition of Parabolic Trough solar heat tospecific geothermal concepts favorable.