GEOTHERMAL

ENERGY

BY

MOHAMED IRFAN.B
VTU 5186
REG NO : 14UEME0184
CONTENT
 Introduction
 History
 Geothermal Reservoirs
 Layout and components of geothermal plant
 Types of power stations:-
1.) Dry steam power plant
2.) Flash steam power plant
3.) Binary-cycle power plant
 Cost of plant
 Geothermal Hotspots in India
 Advantages
 Disadvantages
 Conclusion
 Reference
Introduction
1.) The Adjective Geothermal Originates from a Greek word, geo meaning “earth” and thermo meaning
“heat”. People around the world use geothermal energy to produce electricity, to heat buildings,raising
plants in greenhouses, drying crops and for other purposes.
•
2.)  Earth's internal heat is thermal energy generated from radioactive decay and continual heat loss from
Earth's formation. Temperatures at the core–mantle boundary may reach over 4000 °C (7,200
°F).Rock and water is heated in the crust, sometimes up to 370 °C (700 °F).

3.) Earth’s geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet by (20 %) and from
radioactive decay of minerals by (80%).

4.) Geothermal power is cost-effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly but it has
historically been limited to areas  near tectonic plate boundaries and the emission which cause by
geothermal power plant is low when compared to the power plant which uses fossil fuel.

5.) The Earth's geothermal resources are theoretically more than adequate to supply humanity's energy
needs, but only a very small fraction may be profitably exploited. Drilling and exploration for deep
resources is very [Link] programs like EWEB's customer opt in Green Power Program show that
customers would be willing to pay a little more for a renewable energy source like geothermal, the cost of
generating geothermal power has decreased by 25% over the past two decades. In 2001, geothermal energy costs
between two and ten US cents per kWh.
HISTORY
1.) The worlds first geothermal power generator was tested by prince piero Ginori conti on 4th of
July 1904 in Larderello, Italy which successfully lit four light bulbs.
2.) Later in 1911, the world’s first commercial geothermal power plant was built Larderello city
Italy.
3.) Italy was the world’s  only industrial producer of geothermal electricity until 1958.
4.) In 1958, New Zealand became the second major industrial producer of geothermal electricity.
5.) In 1960, Pacific Gas and Electric began operation of the first successful geothermal electric
power plant in the United States at The Geysers in California.
6.) The binary cycle power plant was first demonstrated in 1967 in Russia and later introduced to
the USA in 1981.  Worldwide, 11,400 megawatts (MW) of geothermal power is online in 24
countries in 2012.
7.) The world's first Geothermal power station in Larderello, in Southern Tuscany, Italy. 1911
Prince Piero Ginori Conti with the first geothermal power plant in 1904.

prince piero ginori conti with first geothermal The world’s first geothermal power station in larderello,
power plant in 1904. in southern Tuscany , Italy , 1911.
Geothermal Reservoirs

1.)  Reservoirs can be suspected in the areas where we find :- 

*Geyser
*Boiling mud pot
*Volcano
*Hot springs
2.) The rising hot water and steam is trapped in permeable and porous rocks to form a geothermal reservoir. Reservoirs
can be discovered by testing the soil analyzing underground temperature.

Geyser Boiling Mud Pot Volcano Hot Springs

Layout of geothermal power plant
Essential components of geothermal plant

 Geothermal Reservoir
 Production well
 Injection well
 Separators
 Steam Turbine
 Generator
 Condensor
 NSG Removal System(Non Condensable Gas)
 Water Circulating System
 Cooling Tower
Types of Power Station
 Dry steam power plant:-
1.) The oldest type of Geothermal power plant used.
2.) Geothermal reservoir containing pure steam is required.
3.) Pure dry steam drives turbine.
4.) Very rare type of geothermal power plant.
5.) Operating at California, Italy, and Japan.
Types of Power Station ( cont.)

 Flash steam power plant:-

1.)Commonly used geothermal power plant.
2.) Geothermal reservoirs containing both hot water & steam is required.
3.)Pressure changing system is required.
4.) Operating at Hawaii, Nevada, Utah & some other places
Types of Power Station ( cont.)

 Binary-cycle power plant :-

1.) Does not use steam directly to spin turbines.
2.) Only the heat of the underground water is used.
3.) Vapourized hydrocarbons are used to spin the turbine.
4.) Hydrocarbons having lower boiling point such as isopentane, isobutane and
propane can be used.
5.) No harmful gas is emitted to the atmosphere because the underground water is never
disclosed to outside.
6.)This is the worldwide accepted power plant.
Cost of plant

 Direct use of geothermal energy is absolutely cheaper than other energy sources.
 Cost of electricity generation depends upon certain factors:-
* Temperature and depth of resource.
*Type of resource (steam, liquid, mix).
* Available volume of resource.
* Size and technology of plant.
  The initial investment is high.
 But after certain time period, the cost of electricity becomes comparable to other resources
of energy.
 US $0.05 to $0.08 (Rs. 2.772 to Rs. 4.4352) per kWh.
 Once the capital cost is recovered, the price can decrease to below US $0.05 (Rs 2.2772) per
kWh.
Geothermal hotspots in India
• Plans to build India's first geothermal power plants are underway. Indian states Gujarat,
Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal are the first of many to announce interest in
developing the BRIC country's first geothermal energy plant, with power capacity in the
range of 3MW to 5MW.
•  Geothermal provinces are estimated to produce 10,600 MW of power (experts are confident
only to the extent of 100 MW)
• Geothermal provinces in India: the Himalayas, Sohana, West coast, Cambay, Son-Narmada-
Tapi , Godavari, and Mahanadi
• Reykjavík Geothermal will assist Thermax to set up a pilot project in Puga Valley, Ladakh
(Jammu & Kashmir)
• First operational commercial geothermal power plant is likely to come up in AP with a
capacity of 25 MW by Geosyndicate Pvt Ltd.
Advantages And disadvantages

Advantages:-
*  Available all the year around.
* Does not involve any combustion of fuel.
* Independent of weather .
* Clean Resource – Very little emissions or overall environmental impact.
* Economically Sound Alternative – The fuel is free, rate / KWh likely to be competitive.
* Overall, geothermal energy is a sustainable resource.

Disadvantages:-
  * Not widespread source of energy.
* High installation costs.
* Can run out of steam.
* May release harmful gases.
* Can’t be Transport from one place to another.
* Plant will be damages if Earthquakes occurs.
Conclusion

 Geothermal heating system can replace fossil fuel heating system in a particular area.

 Annual costs for common heating purposes can be reduced by more than 60%.

 Continued energy shortages have created added interest in geothermal energy for power
generation.

 Potential exists to provide all energy requirements in the U.S

 Geothermal energy appears to be a partial solution to our energy needs.

Reference

 Wikipedia
 Slide share journal
 Science [Link]
 Oxford [Link]
Thank You