ESTIMATING POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL POWER of GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE

Riva Choerul Fatihin 1

1
student of physics department Institut Teknologi Bandung

Abstract. Geothermal potentials in Indonesia could generate up to 6000 electric MW. To exploit this
potential source of exploitation efforts required geothermal energy for electricity, especially for areas west of
Java.Geothermal Power Plant in principle the same as Steam Power Plant, the difference in steam power plant
built in surface using a boiler, whereas steam coming from reservoir geothermal. While wellhead fluid in the
form of steam phase, the steam can channeled directly to the turbine, and then the turbine will change the heat
energy into energy of motion that will turn a generator to produce energy electricity. If the geothermal fluid from
the wellhead as a fluid mixture two phases (steam phase and liquid phase) is first carried out the separation
process fluid. This is possible by passing the fluid into the separator, so that the steam phase will be separated
from the liquid phase.
By utilizing the data of geology, geochemistry, and geophysical methods to investigate the source of
geothermal power that can be utilized, and using comparative method and Volumetric method the prediction of
electrical energy that can be generated. Before next steps exploitation of geothermal energy sources we predict
the amount of electrical energy of geothermal resource.
Keywords : geothermal, electricity, volumetrik, comparative.

I.Introduction geothermal energy sources was first conducted in

Indonesia which comprise of more than 200
volcanoes located along Sumatra, Java, Bali and the
islands of eastern Indonesia (known as The Ring of
Fire) has given rise to large concentration of high
temperature geothermal fields. A research from the
Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources mentioned
that there are 253 geothermal-potential locations in
the country, and only 4 percent has been exploited
[1]. Indonesia’s West Java province has a potential
of 6000 MW with only 1200 MW exploited so
far.Geothermal potentials in west java provine could
generate up to 6000 electric MW, accounting for 20
percent of the country`s total geothermal potential
[2].
Geothermal fluid that has been issued to
contain the energy of the earth's surface heat will be
utilized to produce electrical energy. This made
possible by an energy conversion system of
geothermal fluid (geothermal power cycle) the
changing of the fluid thermal energy into electrical
energy. Geothermal fluid in high temperature (>
225oC) has long been used in several countries for
electricity purpose, but the last few years the
development technology has enabled the use of
geothermal fluid middle temperature (150-225oC)
for generating electricity.Geothermal fluid is
generally only used as a power plant in many
countries such as Italy, New Zeland, USA, Canada
after the year 1979 [3]. In Indonesia, the search for
the area Kamojang crater in 1918. In the year 1926
until the year 1929 five exploration wells drilled to
date in which one of these wells, the wells KMJ-3
still produced dry steam. From 1979 until the end of
1986, geothermal power generation capacity of the
world rose from 1759 MW to 4733 MW.
Nevertheless there are still many countries that not
use its geothermal resources [4].
Geothermal Power Plant in principle the
same as Steam Power Plant, the difference in steam
power plant built in surface using a boiler, whereas
steam coming from reservoir geothermal. While
wellhead fluid in the form of steam phase, the steam
can channeled directly to the turbine, and then the
turbine will change the heat energy into energy of
motion that will turn a generator to produce energy
electricity. If the geothermal fluid from the wellhead
as a fluid mixture two phases (steam phase and
liquid phase) is first carried out the separation
process fluid. This is possible by passing the fluid
into the separator, so that the steam phase will be
separated from the liquid phase.
Energy conversion have an efisiency and
not all heat from geothermal can convert to
electrical energy.
II. Methods and Materials
There are several methods to estimate the
amount of resources, recoverable reserve and the
potential for geothermal electricity. The most
common method used is the comparative method
and volumetric methods.
The first is the comparative method.This
method is used when the investigation is carried
earth science had reached the stage of the
investigation and dissemination of surface
manifestations global geological structure for the
beginning of exploration. At this stage there is no
data that could be used to estimate the amount of
resources by using another method (mathematically
or numerically). Therefore, the energy potential of
geothermal resource potential is estimated based on
another field that has a similar geological
conditions.The basic principle of an equitable
method of comparison is the potential energy of a
new geothermal district (unknown potential) with
another field that has been known to have similar
potential and geological conditions. Magnitude
comparison method geothermal resources in a
geothermal prospect areas can be estimated in the
following way:
Hel = A x Qel [6]
where:
Hel = The amount of resources (MWeV).
A = Extensive geothermal prospect areas (km2).
Broad prospects at this stage can be estimated from
the spread of surface manifestations and pelamparan
global geological structure.
Qel = The electric power can be generated broad unit
(Mwe/km2).
The second method commonly used for the
calculation of geothermal resources, the amount of
geothermal energy that can be used in reality
(reserves) and the amount of electrical energy that
can be produced (the potential for geothermal power
plants).
The calculation is based on the heat energy content
in the rocks and in the fluid (steam and water) as
follows:
The heat contained in the reservoir = heat stored in
rocks + heat stored in the fluid
Data needed for the calculation of this method are:
1. Geothermal area (m2)
2. Thickness (m)
3. Reservoir temperature (oC)
4. Porosity and water saturation steam (fraction)
5. The density of rock (fraction)
6. Heat conductivity of rock (kJ/m oC)
7. The density of steam and water (oC)
8. Energy in the steam and water (kJ)
The heat contained in rock that has a mass m, heat
capacity c and temperature T, can be determined
based on the following basic equation:
Q = m.c.T [7]
So if V is the volume of reservoir (bulk volume), φ
is rock porosity and ρ is its density, then the rock
mass are:
mr = V.(1-φ).ρr
If A is the area of reservoir and h is the thickness of
the above equation becomes:
mr = A.h.(1-φ).ρr If the rock has a heat capacity cr,
then by substituting equation [8] to the equation [9]
to obtain a state equation of heat contained in the
rocks (Qr).
Equation is:
Qr = A.h.(1-φ).ρr.cr.T
If the reservoir volume (bulk volume) is V, φ is rock
porosity, water saturation and the saturation steam
respectively and the SL and Sv. ρL and ρV is the
mass and the mass of water steam that fills the pores
of rocks can be expressed by the following
equation:
mL= v.φ.SL.ρL
mv = v.φ.Sv.ρv
If A is the area of reservoir and h is the thickness of
the two equations in above becomes:
mL = A.h.φ.SL.ρL
mv = A.h.φ.Sv.ρv
If both equations disubstusikan to the equation to
obtain a state equation of heat contained in the
steam and water (Qe) as follows:
Qe = A.h.φ.SL.ρL.uL + A.h.φ.Sv.ρv.uv
Above equation can be rewritten as follows:
Qe = A.h.φ.(SL.ρL.uL+ Sv .ρv .uv ) Thus the heat
energy content in the reservoir (on the rocks and
fluid) is as follows:
He = A.h.[(1-φ) ρr crT + φ (SL ρL uL + Sv ρv uv )
where:
He = Heat energy content (kJ)
A = Geothermal area (m 2)
H = Thick reservoir (m)
T = Reservoir temperature (oC)
SL = Water saturation (fraction)
Sv = steams saturation (fraction)
UL = Energy in the water (kJ/kg)
Uv = Energy in the steam (kJ/kg)
φ = Reservoir rock porosity (fraction)
cr = Rock heat capacity (kJ/kgoC)
ρr = Rock density (kg/m3)
ρr = Water density (kg/m3)
ρV = steam density (kg/m3)
Data needed for this method is:
1. Reservoir area (m2).
2. Reservoir thickness (m).
3. Reservoir temperature at the initial state (o C)
4. Saturation of water and steam saturation in the
initial state (fraction).
5. Rock porosity (fraction).
6. Rock density (kg/m3).
7. Rock heat capacity (kJ / kgoC).
8. Acquisition factor (fraction).
9. Electricity generating long time (years).
10. Electrical conversion factor (fraction).
11. Temperatures in the final state (oC).
12. Saturation of water and steam saturation at the
final state (fraction).
Having gained much geothermal energy reserves
that have been converted in the form of electrical
power, and processing continues in step nail method
of drilling a mountain or wellhead system with the
following scheme:
than the fluid conditions at the wellhead. Water is
channeled to the Flasher to produce steam. The
resulting steam is applied to the low pressure
turbine while the remaining water was taken to
Condensor. Fraction of steam is channeled to the
turbine which is converted to electrical energy in
accordance with the prediction methods and
resources geothermal reserves that have been
described previously.
To predict the amount of electrical energy
that can be produced after the two methods will then
calculate the geothermal energy that can be utilized
in reality (= the amount of reserves when expressed
in kJ):
Hde = Rf x Hth
which can be interpreted as the heat energy that can
be utilized for a period of t years (usually 25-30
years), so the final calculation of electricity power is
:
Hel = η x Hthermal
η = electrical conversion factor (10%)

III. Result and Discussion

According to calculation, the data used is
the geological data, namely the contour, the area,
and the type of rock.

FIG.1. Wellhead double flash system [8]

Geothermal fluid from the well head as a fluid

mixture of two phases (steam phase and liquid
phase) is first performed on the fluid separation
process in sepator, so that the steam phase will be
separated from the liquid phase. Fraction of steam
with pressure and high temperature water
containing separated in the separator to obtain dry
steam used to drive the high pressure turbine.
Turbine will change the earth's heat energy into
motion energy that will turn a generator to produce
electrical energy. Water separator results from the
separation of temperature and pressure will be lower FIG.2. Vertical geological geothermal active zone
 other supporting data is geochemistry data
FIG.4. Geochemistry data geothermal sources

utilizing the data obtained an approximate

calculation of the amount of electrical energy that
can be produced from a geothermal area.
And the results are obtained by taking
example one of geothermal area (kamojang, west
java) is 150 MW [9] from the prediction calculation
180 MW. Thus the methods discussed can be quite
good.

IV. Reference
[1]. Bodvarsson G.S. and Whiterspoon P.A. (1989):
Geothermal Reservoir
Engineering, Geotherm. Sci. & Tech., Volume 2(1)
pp. 1-68.
[2]. Browne P.R.L and Brown.K (1996) :
Geothermal Technology : Earth Science
Notes, Material for Teaching the Teachers Course
III (Kerjasama Geothermal
Institute Institute Univ. of Auckland dengan ITB).
[3]. Dickson M. Han Fanelli M (1990) : Small
Geothermal Resources, A Guide to
Development and Utilization,UNITAR & UNDP
FIG.3. Supporting data in a variety of rock porosity Development and Utilisation,
geothermal sources 262 pp.
[4]. Ellis A.J. and Mahon W. A.J. (1977): Chemistry
and Geothermal Systems,
Field T(C) pH Na K Mg Ca B SiO2 SO4 HCO3 Cl
Academic press, New York, 391 pp.
Chloride water
[5]. Freeston D. H & Browne P.R.L (1994) :
Wairakei (NZ) (Champagne
pool) 99.0 8.0 1070.0 102.0 0.4 26.0 22.0 294.0 26.0 76.0 1770.0
Geothermal Technology, Materi
Tongonan (Philippines),
kursus Teaching the Teachers Th 1994, 146 pp.
spring 98.0 8.3 1990.0 211.0 0.4 86.0 35.0 278.0 74.0 7.0 3397.0 [6]. Freeston D.H (1996) : Geothermal
Sulphate water Technology : Engineering Notes, Material
Waiotapo, NZ (spring) 99.0 2.2 32.0 6.6 0.8 4.0 2.0 308.0 338.0 <1 6.0 for Teaching the Teachers Course III.
Tongonan (Philippines), [7]. Freeston D. H & Browne P.R.L (1997) :
Kepakuhan spring 65.0 2.9 17.0 10.4 5.3 102.0 0.1 130.0 582.0 <1 4.0 Geothermal Technology, Th 1994, 146 pp.
Seawater mixing [8]. Grant, M.A., Donaldson, I.G. and Bixley, P.F.
Efate(Vanuatu) E.Takara (1982) Geothermal Reservoir
spring 66.0 7.0 4740.0 20.0 38.0 2560.0 - 215.0 170.0 - 10700.0 Engineering. Academic Press., New York, 3669 pp.
Bicarbonate water [9]. Kestin J., Dipippo R. et al. (editors): (1990) :
Kamojang(Ind), South Sourcebook On the Production of
spring - 7.0 47.0 16.0 27.0 73.0 1.4 200.0 74.0 836.0 5.0 Electricity From Geothermal Energy, United States
Well-9 (320-m) - 7.1 217.0 45.0 29.0 24.0 1.6 190.0 42.0 606.0 6.0 Department of Energy, 997
Belulang (Bali) 48.0 8.9 217.0 67.0 203.0 1.8 4.1 142.0 133.0 1240.0 99.0 pp.
Sulphate-chloride
Vanua Levu, Fiji (spring) 96.0 6.5 200.0 4.0 0.0 156.0 - 73.0 550.0 26.0 147.0
Volcanic gas
condensation
White Is, NZ (pool) - 2.0 7670.0 1000.0 7310.0 2560.0 6.0 180.0 10500.0 <1 61840.0
Biliran Is, Spring
(Philippines) 80.0 1.4 475.0 163.0 24.0 44.0 90.0 - 9616.0 - 7651.0
Dilute Cl-bicarbonate
Mokai, NZ, North spring - 6.3 245.0 13.0 1.2 9.4 3.0 130.0 8.0 155.0 274.0
Rotokawa, NZ 85.0 7.4 270.0 22.0 1.4 23.0 11.4 144.0 72.0 226.0 309.0
Note: unit in ppm (mg/kg)