Recent analysis by researchers in Vaasa (Finland) and Ostrava (Czechia), conducted with Midas GTS NX software, shed light on the thermal behavior of seabed sediments influenced by both geothermal energy exploitation and seasonal weather changes.
The thermal response of seabed sediments to geothermal cycles was studied in Suvilahti, Finland, where renewable thermal energy from seabed sediment is utilized for heating and cooling houses. The evaluation has implications for the efficiency and potential overuse of a shallow geothermal energy system using innovative coaxial polyethylene pipes (Refla) filled with heat collection fluid laid horizontally in the sediment layer. The numerical
The results of the simulation reveal that the first third of the Refla pipes, within 100 meters from the shore, significantly impacts the sediment environment due to temperature loading from geothermal energy exploitation. This area is suggested to be excluded from the analysis of total geothermal energy reserves. However, the remaining two-thirds of the pipes, extending beyond 100 meters, show potential for sustainable, long-term geothermal energy exploitation at the current rate. The study provides insights into sediment temperature fluctuations and highlights areas that may be subjected to higher temperature loads, emphasizing the importance of considering these factors for the design and optimization of similar geothermal systems in comparable geological and meteorological conditions.
Source
Numerical simulation of the thermal response of seabed sediments to geothermal cycles in Suvilahti, Finland, Renewable Energy via ScienceDirect (Elsevier), 2024-02
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