Initial study of thermal energy storage in unconfined aquifers. [UCATES]

Abstract

Seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) involves storing thermal energy, such as winter chill, summer heat, and industrial waste heat for future use in heating and cooling buildings or for industrial processes. Widespread development and implementation of STES would significantly reduce the need to generate primary energy in the U.S. In fact, 1980 data indicate that STES is technically suitable for providing 5 to 10% of the nation's energy with major contributions in the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors. Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) is predicted to be the most costeffective technology for seasonal storage of low-grade thermal energy. Approximately 60% of the U.S. is underlain with aquifers potentially suitable for underground energy storage. Under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy, Pacific Northwest laboratory (operated by Battelle Memorial Institute) has managed numerical modeling, laboratory studies, evaluation of environmental and institutional issues, and field testing of ATES at several sites.

AnAqSim: Analytic Element Modeling Software for Multi‐Aquifer, Transient Flow

“…AnAqSim provides transient simulation capabilities by using finite difference time steps as suggested by Haitjema and Strack (1985). The transient term in the flow equations is handled in essentially the same manner as it is in finite difference programs like MODFLOW.…”

Analytic Element Ground Water Modeling as a Research Program (1980 to 2006)

“…The essentials of the theory began to come together in a series of publications in the 1980s: journal articles (Strack and Haitjema 1981a, 1981b; Strack 1982a, 1984, 1985; Haitjema 1985; Haitjema 1987; Haitjema and Kraemer 1988), reports (Strack 1982b; Haitjema and Strack 1985), proceedings (Strack et al 1980), and dissertations (Haitjema 1982; Curtis 1983; Fitts 1985; Zaadnoordijk 1988). The definitive and comprehensive AEM publication was the reference book Groundwater Mechanics by Strack (1989), while an application‐oriented presentation of the method is given by Haitjema (1995).…”

Ground Water Modeling Applications Using the Analytic Element Method

“…The first analytic element model SYLENS described horizontal two‐dimensional steady flow. Subsequent work focused on ways to handle three‐dimensional flow (Haitjema 1985; Fitts 1989) and transient flow (Haitjema and Strack 1983). These initial developments, however, did not lead to analytic element models that are fully three dimensional and transient.…”