https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-01094-8
Regular Article
Longevity and power density of intermediate-to-deep geothermal wells in district heating applications
1
Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 11100, 00076, AALTO, Finland
2
The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, 6009, Crawley, WA, Australia
3
Department of Aerospace, Physics and Space Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, 32901, Melbourne, FL, USA
Received:
19
July
2020
Accepted:
8
January
2021
Published online:
25
January
2021
This paper assesses the potential of intermediate-to-deep geothermal wells for district heating purposes in non-hot spot regions as a means for replacing carbon-intensive heat sources. In analysing the problem of heat transfer from the bedrock to a flowing coolant in the well, we perform parameter scans to assess the longevity and power density of different-size wells and derive analytical estimates to explain salient characteristics of the well behaviour. The results are then utilized to illustrate how intermediate-to-deep geothermal wells would compare with the requirements of typical large-scale district heating systems, by using the city of Helsinki in Finland as an example.
© The Author(s) 2021
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