Geothermal Power Plants

Energy Resource potential and utilization

Faculty of Electrical &Computer Engineering

Origin of Geothermal Resources

Bahir Bar Institute of Technology

The earth was originally a mass of hot liquids, gases and steam.
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 Geothermal Power Plants
Energy Resource potential and utilization

1250°С to 1500°С

The average thickness of cooler outer crust is about 30 km. 2

 Geothermal Power Plants
Energy Resource potential and utilization

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 Geothermal Power Plants
Energy Resource potential and utilization

Cross section of the earth with geothermal energy deposits,

various types of rocks, volcanoes, fumaroles, hot springs etc.

1. Centre

2. Magma

3. Conducting (Permeable) Rock

4. Aquiferous rock (Porous, permeable rock through which water

can percolate).

5. Solid impermeable rock.

6. Outer soft soil and water.

A cross section of the globe

indicating following zones.
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 Geothermal Power Plants
Energy Resource potential and utilization

Applications:

 Until 1904, the use of naturally available geothermal energy had been limited for the use of
warm water baths, therapeutic treatments etc. After 1904 the geothermal energy is being used for
many electrical power generation and non-electrical applications .

 The non-electrical applications include:  Space heating

 Air-conditioning
 Process heat
 Medical therapy
 Mineral extraction

 Evidence of the enormous geothermal energy stored deep inside the earth is
apparent only in a few countries and a few locations in the world in the form of:

 Hot water springs.

 The geysers (gusher). Hot water and steam released periodically from small vents in the
ground in volcanic region or geothermal fields.
 Fumaroles. Hot steam and gases released from small vents in the ground in volcanic regions
or geothermal fields.
 Volcanic eruptions. Eruption of geothermal energy in large quantities releasing hot lava,
rocks, ash, mud, forming a typical conical hill or mountain.
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 Geothermal Power Plants
Energy Resource potential and utilization

Typical range of parameters of present geothermal power plants is given below

Engineering Criteria for Resources for Geothermal power plant.

Discharge of Production

Depth of Drill Hole, m

Average temperature of

Mineral content, g/kg

Geothermal fluid ,℃

Well m3/day
Type of Power

185 10,000 650 3 to 20

to to
Electrical power plant
255 3000
with steam - water cycle

Electrical power generation

70 25,000 500 6 to 40
with binary fluid cycle
to to
(Ammonia/water or
150 2500
Hydrocarbon / water,
Freon/water)
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 Geothermal Power Plants
Energy Resource potential and utilization

There are two types of geothermal energy deposits.

— Hydro-geothermal energy resources.

The deposits of hot water and steam at relatively lesser depths

(3000 m). Hot water, hot brine and steam can be extracted from
such deposits by means of the production wells.

— Petro geothermal energy deposits, [Hot Dry Rock (HDR)]

The hot dry rocks at temperature around 200°C and depth

about 2000 m form important deposits of geothermal energy.
Two types of wells are drilled in HDR sites. These are called
production wells and injection wells.

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 Geothermal Power Plants
Energy Resource potential and utilization

Hydrothermal and Geothermal Deposits (Reserves).

[Rain water, lake water, sea water percolates through top soil and fractures.
The water gets heated in contact with geothermal heat, rises and gets collected
in the cavities to form the deposits (reserves)].
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 Geothermal Power Plants
Energy Resource potential and utilization

Petro geothermal energy deposits, [Hot Dry Rock (HDR)]

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 Geothermal Power Plants
Energy Resource potential and utilization

Country and Total Installed Geothermal Temp.

Location Capacity Fluid °C
USA, The Geysers 1100 MW Steam 285
Italy, Larderello 406 MW Steam, 260
Steam + Water

New Zealand, Weirakai 290 MW Steam + Water 260

Japan, various sites 110 MW Steam + Water 280
Chile, El Tatio 15 MW Steam + Water 260
El Salvador, Ahuchapan 80 MW Steam + Water 250
Mexico, Cerro Prieto 150 MW Steam + Water 270
Turkey, Kizildere 10 MW Steam + Water 210
Former USSR, Pauzhetsk 7 MW Steam + Water 200
Iceland, Namaflijali 2.5 MW Steam + Water 280

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 Geothermal Power Plants
Energy Resource potential and utilization

Region Proven Probable Possible Total

(MW) (MW) (MW) (MW)

Aluto 30 30 - 60
Langano

Tendaho 10 0 1000 1010

Total 40 30 1000 1070

POTENTIALLY PRODUCTIVE WELLS FOR POWER

PRODUCTION ARE IDENTIFIED ONLY IN 2 AREAS
 ALUTO-LANGANO
 TENDAHO

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 Geothermal Power Plants
Energy Resource potential and utilization

TENDAHO
TENDAHO

POTENTIALLY PRODUCTIVE WELLS FOR POWER

PRODUCTION ARE IDENTIFIED ONLY IN 2 AREAS
 ALUTO-LANGANO

ALUTO-LANGANO  TENDAHO
ALUTO-LANGAO

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 Geothermal Power Plants
Energy Resource potential and utilization

The pipe line projects in order of priority.

The selection and prioritization of these prospects is considered based on:

(i) the level of geothermal study, so far conducted,

(ii) their strategic locations (proximity to the existing grid) and
(iii) population density.

Expected output of the proposed pipeline projects is summarized below:

No. Prospect Area Estimated output. Estimated time

1 Aluto-Langano Geothermal Field » 75 MW 5-6 Years

2 Tendaho Geothermal field » 100 MW 7-8 Years
3 Corbetti Geothermal Field » 75 MW 7-8 Year
4 Abaya Geothermal Prospect Area » 100 MW 7-8 Years
5 Tulu Moye Geothermal Field » 40 MW 7-8 Year
6 Dofan Fantale Geothermal Field » 50 MW 7-8 Years

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 Advantage of Geothermal Energy
Energy created from geothermal power is safe, clean,
simple, reliable and environment friendly as it is
extracted from deep within the earths surface.
Disadvantages Of Geothermal Energy
1. Not Widespread Source of Energy : Since this type of energy is not widely used
therefore the unavailability of equipment, staff, infrastructure, training pose hindrance
to the installation of geothermal plants across the globe.
Not enough skilled manpower and availability of suitable build location pose serious
problem in adopting geothermal energy globally.
2. High Installation Costs :
3. Can Run Out Of Steam : Geothermal sites can run out of steam over a period of
time due to drop in temperature or if too much water is injected to cool the rocks
and this may result huge loss for the companies which have invested heavily in these
plants.

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 Cont…
4. Suited To Particular Region : It is only suitable for regions which have hot
rocks below the earth and can produce steam over a long period of time.
5. May Release Harmful Gases : Geothermal sites may contain some poisonous
gases and they can escape deep within the earth, through the holes drilled by the
constructors. The geothermal plant must therefore be capable enough to contain
these harmful and toxic gases.
6. Transportation : Geothermal Energy can not be easily transported. Once the
tapped energy is extracted, it can be only used in the surrounding areas.

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 Geothermal Power Plants
Energy Resource potential and utilization
Summary
Geothermal energy resources are in the form of:
(1) Hot water,
(2) Hot brine,
(3) Steam,
(4) Mixture of above.

The resources are found at different depths. Temperatures of geothermal fluids vary
between 50°C to 280°C. Geothermal deposits up to 1500 m depth are suitable for
extraction through production wells. Only some 20 countries in the world have
suitable geothermal fields.

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Thanks.!!

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