Different scales of installation Geothermal energy: Different scales of installation

Geothermal energy Energy obtained by tapping underground reservoirs of heat, usually near volcanoes or other hot spots on the surface of the Earth.

Small scale: heating building and water residence pavillonaire, usage individuel

Heat a house with heat pump We can produce heating thanks to geothermal energy at small scale. For example in a house, in a swimming pool, in a gymnasium, … A COP of 3,5 at less than 1,5 km First, in the ground, a coolant liquid flow on the circuit. He join the heat pump for enter in a first heat exchanger. Here, it exchange thermal unit with the principal circuit where there is coolant liquid too. The coolant liquid with thermal unit come in a compressor to be compress. The compression heat up thermal unit. Hot thermal unit comes on a second heat exchanger to exchange hot thermal unit with the secondary circuit with water. Hot water is redirecting on the house on tap or on heater. Meanwhile, the coolant liquid which have losing thermal unit come in the expansion valve to be decompress, be cool and working. This cycle is infinite. there is a cop of 3,5, it means that for 1 kwh of electricity consumed we produce 3,5 kwh of heat this type of installation can be implant in any type of ground, it’s call low temperature geothermal science

Middle scale: heating buildings and water appartement, etablissement public

Heat and cool a greenhouse along the year during summer cold water is exchange in a heat exchanger to a second circuit and it produces cold in the greenhouse. So the cold water is warm and return to the stock of cold water During the winter the system is reversing and it produce warm in the greenhouse.

Large scale: to produce electricity

Some explanations about geothermal power plant There are built on the edges of tectonic plates because it’s a spring of hot water. It creates electricity thanks to turbine which rotates with the steam produces. The largest group of power station is located in California (US) and has a power of 3,000MW The global production of electricity provides by geothermal power plant represents 67,000 GWh

Functioning Hot water is pumped from deep underground through a well under high pressure. When the water reaches the surface, the pressure is dropped, which causes the water to turn into steam. The steam spins a turbine, which is connected to a generator that produces electricity. The steam cools off in a cooling tower and condenses back to water. The cooled water is pumped back into the Earth to begin the process again.

Conclusion Geothermal energy contains many uses at different scales. This kind of energy permit every type of exploitation and is surely the most promessing.

Resources http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/pros-and-cons-of-geothermal-energy.php http://geo-energy.org/geo_basics_plant_cost.aspx http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy11osti/49391.pdf https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/can-geothermal-power-compete-with- coal-on-price/ http://www.mtaterre.fr/dossiers/comment-ca-marche-la-geothermie