Lesson 1, Topic 1
In Progress

Geothermal Energy

Abdulaziz July 15, 2020
Trekking Geothermal Pool In Iceland
Geothermal Activity and Geysers
Geothermal Power Plant
Geothermal Power Plant

Geothermal (renewable or not??)

  • A USA agency estimates total energy available to be ~15,000 x energy in all known oil and gas reserves in the world
  • always be available when it is needed
  • not always available where it is needed
https://www.mpoweruk.com/geothermal_energy.htm

Geothermal Power

  • steam brought up from reservoir
  • directed past turbines
  • shaft of turbine turns generator
  • spinning magnets of generator convert rotational energy into electricity
  • depleted steam condensed and re injected
Hot steam from underground is piped directly into turbines, which powers the generator.
https://www.saveonenergy.com/how-geothermal-energy-works/

Direct heat energy: geothermal

  • Where sufficient accessible geothermal energy is present it can be used for:
    • heating buildings (individually or whole towns)
    • raising plants in greenhouses
    • drying crops
    • heating water (ie fish farms)
    • industrial processes (ie pasteurizing milk)

Geothermal heat pumps

  • shallow ground (upper 3m) maintains a temperature between 10 -16°C
  • in certain countries this is:
    • warmer than the air above it in winter
    • cooler than the air above it in summer
  • heat exchange occurs via:
    • a system of pipes buried in shallow ground
    • a fluid (water and anti freeze) circulates through the pipes to absorb or relinquish heat within the ground
http://geothermalheatpumpconsortium.org/