COMSOL Models and Simulation Results for Closed-Loop Geothermal Systems with Thermal Enhancements

Description

The Closed-Loop Geothermal Working Group and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have studied the performance of disc-shaped and linear thermal enhancements (conductive material introduced around a wellbore) in closed-loop geothermal systems. COMSOL models were developed to investigate the increase in heat production in systems with thermal enhancements compared to those without, across a range of scenarios. This dataset includes two example COMSOL models, a summary of the simulation results, and a link to an accompanying paper. Studied are idealized versions of two thermal enhancement designs: (1) existing or newly created fractures surrounding the wellbore, filled with highly conductive material, and (2) a 'fishbone structure,' where short wellbores are drilled radially outward from the main wellbore and filled with highly conductive material.

Resources

Name Format Description Link
33 2024 Stanford Geothermal Workshop paper presenting the COSMOL simulation results and investigating their impact on studying the performance of thermal enhancements for closed-loop geothermal systems. https://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/db/GeoConf/papers/SGW/2024/Beckers.pdf
0 2D steady-state COMSOL model developed to simulate disc-shaped thermal enhancements for closed-loop geothermal. Model design information and visualizations can be found in the accompanying paper. https://gdr.openei.org/files/1574/Disc_Thermal_Enhancement_SteadyState_2Dmodel.mph
0 3D steady-state COMSOL model developed to simulate linear thermal enhancements for closed-loop geothermal. Model design information and visualizations can be found in the accompanying paper. https://gdr.openei.org/files/1574/Linear_Extent_Thermal_Enhancement_SteadyState_3Dmodel.mph
53 Spreadsheet listing COMSOL simulation results for each scenario (for both disc and linear thermal enhancements). Disc-shaped thermal enhancement results are presented in the second tab, linear extent thermal enhancement results in the third tab. In all models, the heat transfer fluid was water, injected at 2 kg/s and 50 degrees C. These simulations results are presented with graphs in the accompanying 2024 Stanford Geothermal Workshop paper. https://gdr.openei.org/files/1574/COMSOL%20Thermal%20Enhancements%20Simulation%20Results.xlsx

Tags

  • assessment
  • transient
  • closed-loop
  • simulation-results
  • model
  • steady-state
  • cosmol
  • simulation
  • geothermal
  • energy
  • thermal-enhancements

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