Numerical Investigation of Techno-Economic Multiobjective Optimization of Geothermal Water Reservoir Development: A Case Study of China

Abstract

Renewable geothermal utilization is a significant approach for residential heating with two principal modes, direct geothermal district heating systems (DGDHSs) and indirect geothermal district heating systems (IGDHSs). The key principle of geothermal development design is to prevent premature thermal breakthrough, which could result in low efficiency of geothermal heating systems. In this paper, a new approach considering building heating demand, geothermal water resource protection, and optimal economic benefits is presented systematically. The results simulated by OGS software show that well spacing, reinjection temperature, and production rate are the most significant parameters affecting thermal breakthrough in geothermal reservoirs. In addition, production rate and reinjection temperature have a huge effect on the payback period of investment. Comparing IGDHS to DGDHS, the investment in construction of geothermal wells and the annual water consumption decrease by up to 10% and 50%, respectively. Additionally, electricity costs increase by 5% to 30%. The indirect geothermal district heating system with a well spacing of 300 m, a production rate of 100 m3/h, and a reinjection temperature of 301.15 K is much better for this case, both technically and economically. The systematic calculation approach can be reasonably applied to other regions with geothermal energy utilization.

Water Flow, Solute and Heat Transfer in Groundwater

“…Two papers consider problems related to the technical applications of heat transfer in groundwater. Zang et al (2019) [8] presented a new approach aiming at using geothermal water resources for residential heating. Simulations based on mathematical models of groundwater flow and heat transfer show that well spacing, reinjection temperature, and production rate are the most significant factors influencing thermal breakthrough in geothermal reservoirs.…”

Research on Three-Phase Saturation Distribution Based on Microfluidic Visualization Experiment: A Case Study of Ling Xin Mining Area

“…Gas production and flooding, especially during coal mining [10][11][12], have a nonnegligible impact on brine storage in mining area [13][14][15][16]. In specific, the residual oil in micropores is conducive to plug the predominant pathways for a better brine storage [17,18], while the gas flooding probably displaces the brine and oil in micropores causing brine transfer, even leakage [4,[19][20][21][22].…”