A meta-study of the effect of thermodynamic parameters on the efficiency of geothermal power plants worldwide

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Oscar Nieves
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2110-9489
Tomas Nancarrow
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4296-4134
Jessica MacKinnon
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3189-1128

Abstract

As global energy demand rises, the search for viable alternative fuel sources continues. The practicality of geothermal energy to meet this demand is highly dependent on optimizing thermal efficiency. While geothermal energy is currently used in places like Western Australia for direct-heat applications such as leisure centres, developing a geothermal power plant in such an area depends on predicting which thermodynamic parameters optimize thermal efficiency. This meta-study focuses on the effect of geothermal operation parameters such as inlet pressure, temperature, mass flow rate, well depth and number of production wells on the thermal efficiency of geothermal power plants. Drawing data from 61 geothermal power plants around the world ranging in design capacity (MWe) and size, a meta-study on the thermal efficiency of plants operating under different thermodynamic cycles, namely single-flash, double-flash, binary Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and Kalina, is offered. These various thermodynamic parameters are analysed to determine the presence of observable thermal efficiency patterns or trends that may lead to the optimization of operation parameters for new geothermal plants. Based on the available published data reviewed, there are few trends which indicate how geothermal operation parameters affect thermal efficiency. Well depth may be an indicator of efficiency for geothermal power plants using ORC and double-flash cycles, however further data is required to support this conclusion.

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Author Biographies

Oscar Nieves, University of Technology, Sydney

School of Physics and Advanced Materials

Undergraduate Student

Tomas Nancarrow, University of Technology, Sydney

School of Physics and Advanced Materials

Undergraduate Student

Jessica MacKinnon, University of Technology, Sydney

School of Physics and Advanced Materials

Undergraduate Student