New geothermal heat extraction process to deliver clean power generation (w/ Video)
July 16, 2009
PNNL's introduction of a metal-organic heat carrier, or MOHC, in the biphasic fluid may help improve thermodynamic efficiency of the heat recovery process. This image represents the molecular makeup of one of several MOHCs.
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new method for capturing significantly more heat from low-temperature geothermal resources holds promise for generating virtually pollution-free electrical energy. Scientists at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will determine if their innovative approach can safely and economically extract and convert heat from vast untapped geothermal resources.
The goal is to enable power generation from low-temperature geothermal resources at an economical cost. In addition to being a clean energy source without any greenhouse gas emissions, geothermal is also a steady and dependable source of power.
"By the end of the calendar year, we plan to have a functioning bench-top prototype generating electricity," predicts PNNL Laboratory Fellow Pete McGrail. "If successful, enhanced geothermal systems like this could become an important energy source." A technical and economic analysis conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology estimates that enhanced geothermal systems could provide 10 percent of the nation's overall electrical generating capacity by 2050.
PNNL's conversion system will take advantage of the rapid expansion and contraction capabilities of a new liquid developed by PNNL researchers called biphasic fluid. When exposed to heat brought to the surface from water circulating in moderately hot, underground rock, the thermal-cycling of the biphasic fluid will power a turbine to generate electricity.
To aid in efficiency, scientists have added nanostructured metal-organic heat carriers, or MOHCs, which boost the power generation capacity to near that of a conventional steam cycle. McGrail cited PNNL's nanotechnology and molecular engineering expertise as an important factor in the development, noting that the advancement was an outgrowth of research already underway at the lab.
"Some novel research on nanomaterials used to capture carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels actually led us to this discovery," said McGrail. "Scientific breakthroughs can come from some very unintuitive connections."
Source: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (news : web)
Apr 30, 2009 |
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Hopefully it wont cause environmental havoc.
I may be mistaken here, but I think the fluid is essentially inside of a hydraulic type piston/pump which would be housed in a room, probably an underground room, but the point is not directly in soil.
http://www.junksc...tbe.html
I didn't say we don't need to be aware of it's properties in the environment. Just that the risk of contamination is hopefully very low.
Since when did you have to convince anyone? Just don't tell them. With enough money, you can do anything.
Case in point: Monsanto has genetically modified russet potatoes so they excrete a poison that kills a certain bug. Russet potatoes are McDonald's number one used potato. So everytime people eat fries at McD's, they could be eating fries made from potatoes that are registered with the EPA as a pesticide. They are called NewLeaf potatoes.
So, all they have to do is convince the FDA like Monsanto has done, to not be forced to label their product with what is really in it.
We should be very concerned about the affects of anything that could even remotely get into the environment. And even MORE concerned about all the things we don't know about.
It seems all you are not discussing the real problem : is better fossil fuels that are actually and massively destroing our environment or is better this sistem that will sometimes (incidents always happens) create problems?
I think this is a great discovery.
And I hope this scientists will continue with their project.
We absolutely need to replace fossil fuels with better energy sources.
If this system will be able to create a really good energy sources, the next real problem will be to force oil company to leave oil money and adopt this (and other) system.
All the other problem are irrelevant...
An ideal solution is to convert a minor part of the energy to electricity, and use the rest of the heat for central heating in nearby cities and towns. That way, you should be able to use 80-90%. The limiting factor will be the cost for the pipelines pumping hot water to nearby towns.
By the way, will the MOHCs be used for a Stirling-type engine, or a turbine?
If it's proven non-toxic or biodegrades in soil, all is good. If not, I don't want it.
As well as Geothermal this could probably be used for other low grad heat sources, like waste from nuclear, coal and other heat turbine stations.
Or to anyone with a water-block cpu heatsink >:D