Abstract
Energy extraction from geothermal reservoirs requires an understanding of the thermodynamic and thermophysical properties of the geothermal fluid, which are themselves dependent on the fluid's chemical composition.
The composition of geothermal fluids varies over time throughout the reservoir and differs from well to well, as a result of injection of other fluids (brine, CO2) or due to changes in local chemical and thermal equilibrium as heat is extracted.
Therefore, numerical models should account for such spatial and temporal chemical changes to calculate fluid properties accurately.
While several thermodynamic and thermophysical models exist for predefined fluid compositions, numerical methods are needed that can accommodate fluids of arbitrary chemical composition.
In this work, we present a numerical simulation framework that accounts for such composition-dependency in geothermal power production modeling. The framework couples species-based thermodynamic and thermophysical models, with a non-linear system solver (KINSOL) and a chemical system solver (Reaktoro).
We first demonstrate accuracy of the approach by comparing the predictions of thermodynamic and thermophysical properties of various aqueous solutions (single, binary, and multiple salt solutions) with experimental data.
We then use the solver to model geothermal heat extraction from different geothermal sites and examine the effects of salinity and fluid composition on the amount of energy produced.
The composition of geothermal fluids varies over time throughout the reservoir and differs from well to well, as a result of injection of other fluids (brine, CO2) or due to changes in local chemical and thermal equilibrium as heat is extracted.
Therefore, numerical models should account for such spatial and temporal chemical changes to calculate fluid properties accurately.
While several thermodynamic and thermophysical models exist for predefined fluid compositions, numerical methods are needed that can accommodate fluids of arbitrary chemical composition.
In this work, we present a numerical simulation framework that accounts for such composition-dependency in geothermal power production modeling. The framework couples species-based thermodynamic and thermophysical models, with a non-linear system solver (KINSOL) and a chemical system solver (Reaktoro).
We first demonstrate accuracy of the approach by comparing the predictions of thermodynamic and thermophysical properties of various aqueous solutions (single, binary, and multiple salt solutions) with experimental data.
We then use the solver to model geothermal heat extraction from different geothermal sites and examine the effects of salinity and fluid composition on the amount of energy produced.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | Fall Meeting of the American-Geophysical-Union 2016 - San Francisco, United States of America Duration: 12 Dec 2016 → 16 Dec 2016 |
Conference
| Conference | Fall Meeting of the American-Geophysical-Union 2016 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | AGU |
| Country/Territory | United States of America |
| City | San Francisco |
| Period | 12/12/16 → 16/12/16 |
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