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On the limitations of closed-loop geothermal systems for electricity generation outside high-geothermal gradient fields
Authors
1 Fayoum University, Faculty of Eng., Dept. of Electronics and Communication Eng. Fayoum, Egypt
2 Material science, Engineering, University of Leeds
DOIAbstract
Closed-Loop Geothermal Systems (CLGS) involve connecting the injection and production wells through several borehole-sized parallel laterals instead of circulating a working fluid through a fracture network. Companies have garnered millions of dollars in investments on the claim that CLGS is truly scalable for both heating and electricity generation purposes. We show that high flow rates in the laterals lead to a steep drop in production temperatures because of a rapid cooling of the rock matrix surrounding the wells.
Main Subjects
Communications Engineering
Engineering
Computer Science
+1Keywords
Geothermal
closed loops
injection
