Thermal Energy Storage and Recovery in Fractured Granite Reservoirs: Numerical Modeling and Efficiency Analysis
Although Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) systems are widely researched, Fractured Thermal Energy Storage (FTES) systems are comparatively underexplored. This study presents a detailed numerical model of a fractured granitic reservoir at the Bedretto underground laboratory in Switzerland, devel...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| author | Nima Gholizadeh Doonechaly Théo Halter Alexis Shakas Mahmoud Hefny Maren Brehme Marian Hertrich Domenico Giardini |
| author_facet | Nima Gholizadeh Doonechaly Théo Halter Alexis Shakas Mahmoud Hefny Maren Brehme Marian Hertrich Domenico Giardini |
| author_sort | Nima Gholizadeh Doonechaly |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) systems are widely researched, Fractured Thermal Energy Storage (FTES) systems are comparatively underexplored. This study presents a detailed numerical model of a fractured granitic reservoir at the Bedretto underground laboratory in Switzerland, developed using COMSOL Multiphysics. Energy efficiency was evaluated across different flow rates and well configurations, including single-well and doublet systems, as well as for two different temperatures, namely 60 °C and 120 °C. The doublet configuration at an injection temperature of 60 °C with a flow rate of 2 kg/s demonstrated the highest energy efficiency among the cases studied. Potential applications for the stored heat are discussed, with scenarios including district heating for the nearby village and greenhouse heating. The results show that although FTES is associated with unique challenges, it has significant potential as a reliable thermal energy storage method, particularly in regions without suitable aquifers. It can also be considered as a cost-effective and competitive approach for climate mitigation (assuming the system is solely powered by solar-PV). This study provides insights into the viability and optimization of FTES systems and highlights the role of fracture/fault properties in enhancing energy efficiency. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d9ab124be73f4d6090c88e580aef3f7b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-d9ab124be73f4d6090c88e580aef3f7b2024-12-27T14:28:22ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632024-12-01141235710.3390/geosciences14120357Thermal Energy Storage and Recovery in Fractured Granite Reservoirs: Numerical Modeling and Efficiency AnalysisNima Gholizadeh Doonechaly0Théo Halter1Alexis Shakas2Mahmoud Hefny3Maren Brehme4Marian Hertrich5Domenico Giardini6Center for Hydrogeology and Geothermics, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, SwitzerlandDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, SwitzerlandAlthough Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) systems are widely researched, Fractured Thermal Energy Storage (FTES) systems are comparatively underexplored. This study presents a detailed numerical model of a fractured granitic reservoir at the Bedretto underground laboratory in Switzerland, developed using COMSOL Multiphysics. Energy efficiency was evaluated across different flow rates and well configurations, including single-well and doublet systems, as well as for two different temperatures, namely 60 °C and 120 °C. The doublet configuration at an injection temperature of 60 °C with a flow rate of 2 kg/s demonstrated the highest energy efficiency among the cases studied. Potential applications for the stored heat are discussed, with scenarios including district heating for the nearby village and greenhouse heating. The results show that although FTES is associated with unique challenges, it has significant potential as a reliable thermal energy storage method, particularly in regions without suitable aquifers. It can also be considered as a cost-effective and competitive approach for climate mitigation (assuming the system is solely powered by solar-PV). This study provides insights into the viability and optimization of FTES systems and highlights the role of fracture/fault properties in enhancing energy efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/14/12/357fracture thermal energy storage (FTES)energy efficiencynumerical modelBedretto laboratory |
| spellingShingle | Nima Gholizadeh Doonechaly Théo Halter Alexis Shakas Mahmoud Hefny Maren Brehme Marian Hertrich Domenico Giardini Thermal Energy Storage and Recovery in Fractured Granite Reservoirs: Numerical Modeling and Efficiency Analysis Geosciences fracture thermal energy storage (FTES) energy efficiency numerical model Bedretto laboratory |
| title | Thermal Energy Storage and Recovery in Fractured Granite Reservoirs: Numerical Modeling and Efficiency Analysis |
| title_full | Thermal Energy Storage and Recovery in Fractured Granite Reservoirs: Numerical Modeling and Efficiency Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Thermal Energy Storage and Recovery in Fractured Granite Reservoirs: Numerical Modeling and Efficiency Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thermal Energy Storage and Recovery in Fractured Granite Reservoirs: Numerical Modeling and Efficiency Analysis |
| title_short | Thermal Energy Storage and Recovery in Fractured Granite Reservoirs: Numerical Modeling and Efficiency Analysis |
| title_sort | thermal energy storage and recovery in fractured granite reservoirs numerical modeling and efficiency analysis |
| topic | fracture thermal energy storage (FTES) energy efficiency numerical model Bedretto laboratory |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/14/12/357 |
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