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
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
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 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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