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Numerical analysis of characteristics of a single U-tube downhole heat exchanger in the borehole for geothermal wells

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  • Lyu, Zehao
  • Song, Xianzhi
  • Li, Gensheng
  • Hu, Xiaodong
  • Shi, Yu
  • Xu, Zhipeng

Abstract

Geothermal energy is one of the most promising renewable resources and an alternative to conventional fossil fuels. Downhole heat exchanger is the most common form used for exploitation. Based on the geological data of Xinji geothermal field, China, the entire flow field of a single U-tube downhole heat exchanger inside the borehole is analyzed comprehensively by a three-dimensional steady state model. Thermo-physical properties of working fluid are considered specifically. The performance of the exchanger is studied through investigation on the influences of mass flow rate, degree of depth, length of the U-tube and temperature difference between working fluid and geothermal field. Finally, conversion rates are calculated and comparison of influences between four parameters has been made quantitatively via grey correlation analysis. Simulation values are validated by results obtained from field tests. For geothermal fields with high temperature, it is better to apply a large volume of circulating water to obtain higher heat extraction rate. The length of the U-tube is the most significant impact factor on the conversion rate, with the following sequence being temperature difference, mass flow rate and degree of depth. Therefore, lengthening the U-tube is the most efficient and cost-effective way for the exploitation of geothermal energy.

Suggested Citation

  • Lyu, Zehao & Song, Xianzhi & Li, Gensheng & Hu, Xiaodong & Shi, Yu & Xu, Zhipeng, 2017. "Numerical analysis of characteristics of a single U-tube downhole heat exchanger in the borehole for geothermal wells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 186-196.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:125:y:2017:i:c:p:186-196
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.02.125
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    5. Song, Xianzhi & Wang, Gaosheng & Shi, Yu & Li, Ruixia & Xu, Zhengming & Zheng, Rui & Wang, Yu & Li, Jiacheng, 2018. "Numerical analysis of heat extraction performance of a deep coaxial borehole heat exchanger geothermal system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1298-1310.
    6. Javadi, Hossein & Mousavi Ajarostaghi, Seyed Soheil & Rosen, Marc A. & Pourfallah, Mohsen, 2019. "Performance of ground heat exchangers: A comprehensive review of recent advances," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 207-233.
    7. Song, Xianzhi & Shi, Yu & Li, Gensheng & Shen, Zhonghou & Hu, Xiaodong & Lyu, Zehao & Zheng, Rui & Wang, Gaosheng, 2018. "Numerical analysis of the heat production performance of a closed loop geothermal system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 365-378.
    8. Wang, Gaosheng & Song, Xianzhi & Shi, Yu & Yang, Ruiyue & Yulong, Feixue & Zheng, Rui & Li, Jiacheng, 2021. "Heat extraction analysis of a novel multilateral-well coaxial closed-loop geothermal system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 974-986.
    9. Lebbihiat, Nacer & Atia, Abdelmalek & Arıcı, Müslüm & Meneceur, Noureddine & Hadjadj, Abdessamia & Chetioui, Youcef, 2022. "Thermal performance analysis of helical ground-air heat exchanger under hot climate: In situ measurement and numerical simulation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PC).
    10. Molina-Rodea, R. & Saucedo-Velázquez, J. & Gómez-Franco, W.R. & Wong-Loya, J.A., 2024. "Operational proposal of “U” type earth heat exchanger harnessing a non-producing well for energy supply to an absorption cooling system. Approach with “La Primavera” geothermal field data," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    11. Wei, Changjiang & Mao, Liangjie & Yao, Changshun & Yu, Guijian, 2022. "Heat transfer investigation between wellbore and formation in U-shaped geothermal wells with long horizontal section," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 972-989.
    12. Song, Xianzhi & Shi, Yu & Li, Gensheng & Yang, Ruiyue & Xu, Zhengming & Zheng, Rui & Wang, Gaosheng & Lyu, Zehao, 2017. "Heat extraction performance simulation for various configurations of a downhole heat exchanger geothermal system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 1489-1503.
    13. He, Yuting & Jia, Min & Li, Xiaogang & Yang, Zhaozhong & Song, Rui, 2021. "Performance analysis of coaxial heat exchanger and heat-carrier fluid in medium-deep geothermal energy development," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 938-959.
    14. Zhu, Li & Chen, Sarula & Yang, Yang & Tian, Wei & Sun, Yong & Lyu, Mian, 2019. "Global sensitivity analysis on borehole thermal energy storage performances under intermittent operation mode in the first charging phase," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 183-198.
    15. Song, Xianzhi & Shi, Yu & Li, Gensheng & Yang, Ruiyue & Wang, Gaosheng & Zheng, Rui & Li, Jiacheng & Lyu, Zehao, 2018. "Numerical simulation of heat extraction performance in enhanced geothermal system with multilateral wells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 325-337.
    16. Kexun Wang & Tishi Huang & Wenke Zhang & Zhiqiang Zhang & Xueqing Ma & Leyao Zhang, 2023. "An Analysis of the Heat Transfer Characteristics of Medium-Shallow Borehole Ground Heat Exchangers with Various Working Fluids," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-21, August.
    17. Muhammad Asad & Vincenzo Guida & Alessandro Mauro, 2023. "Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Efficacy of a Real Downhole Heat Exchanger," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-19, September.
    18. Biglarian, Hassan & Abbaspour, Madjid & Saidi, Mohammad Hassan, 2018. "Evaluation of a transient borehole heat exchanger model in dynamic simulation of a ground source heat pump system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 81-93.
    19. Bi, Yuehong & Lyu, Tianli & Wang, Hongyan & Sun, Ruirui & Yu, Meize, 2019. "Parameter analysis of single U-tube GHE and dynamic simulation of underground temperature field round one year for GSHP," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 138-147.

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