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Coarse-Grained Model of Underground Thermal Energy Storage Applied to Efficiency Optimization

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  • Anders E. Carlsson

    (Department of Physics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA)

Abstract

Seasonal storage of thermal energy, by pumping heated water through a borehole array in the summer, and reversing the water flow to extract heat in the winter, can ameliorate some of the intermittency of renewable energy sources. Simulation can be a valuable tool in enhancing the efficiency of such storage systems. This paper develops a simple, efficient mathematical model of spatial temperature dynamics that focuses on the radial water flow in a cylindrical borehole array. The model calculates the time course of the temperature difference between outgoing and incoming water accurately, and allows new optimization strategies to be explored easily. A strategy based on discharging water heated by the array before it reaches the array center can increase the storage capacity by 25% for a system with a 20% smaller radius than the well-studied Drake Landing system. If the density of boreholes is also doubled, the improvement is 29%.

Suggested Citation

  • Anders E. Carlsson, 2020. "Coarse-Grained Model of Underground Thermal Energy Storage Applied to Efficiency Optimization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:8:p:1918-:d:345288
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael Lanahan & Paulo Cesar Tabares-Velasco, 2017. "Seasonal Thermal-Energy Storage: A Critical Review on BTES Systems, Modeling, and System Design for Higher System Efficiency," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-24, May.
    2. Zhang, Liang & Xu, Peng & Mao, Jiachen & Tang, Xu & Li, Zhengwei & Shi, Jianguo, 2015. "A low cost seasonal solar soil heat storage system for greenhouse heating: Design and pilot study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 213-222.
    3. Rad, Farzin M. & Fung, Alan S., 2016. "Solar community heating and cooling system with borehole thermal energy storage – Review of systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1550-1561.
    4. Reed, A.L. & Novelli, A.P. & Doran, K.L. & Ge, S. & Lu, N. & McCartney, J.S., 2018. "Solar district heating with underground thermal energy storage: Pathways to commercial viability in North America," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 1-13.
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