Optimizing scenarios of a deep geothermal aquifer storage in the southern Upper Rhine Graben

Abstract Based on a newly developed geological 3D reservoir model for the demonstration site of the ‘Freiburger Bucht’ in the Upper Rhine Graben (SW Germany), geothermal development and realization concepts of an aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) in the Buntsandstein aquifer were elaborated and...

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Main Authors: Ingrid Stober, Martin Jägle, Thomas Kohl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2023-12-01
Series:Geothermal Energy
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40517-023-00275-1
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author Ingrid Stober
Martin Jägle
Thomas Kohl
author_facet Ingrid Stober
Martin Jägle
Thomas Kohl
author_sort Ingrid Stober
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Based on a newly developed geological 3D reservoir model for the demonstration site of the ‘Freiburger Bucht’ in the Upper Rhine Graben (SW Germany), geothermal development and realization concepts of an aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) in the Buntsandstein aquifer were elaborated and energetically evaluated by numerical modeling. The thermal–hydraulic coupled modeling was performed with the FE-software OpenGeoSys and COMSOL. For this purpose, the geological model was converted into a numerical model and calibrated by local and regional, hydrogeological and geothermal measured values. A detailed study based on two-phase storage-heating cycles per year with constant injection temperature on the ‘hot side’ of the ATES, different volumetric flow rates, and temperature spreads was performed to quantify possible storage capacities, energies, and efficiencies. The calculated efficiency of the cyclic storage operation in this study, averaged over 10 storage heating cycles, are between 50 and 85%, depending on flow rate and temperature spread. The efficiency of the individual storage heating cycles increases from year to year in all scenarios considered, as the ‘hot side’ of the storage heats up in the long term. To increase ATES’ efficiency, also horizontal wells were integrated into the numerical model and the results were compared with those of inclined wells.
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spelling doaj.art-83dbf3051843405ea52b5bbb622b0cfe2023-12-03T12:17:22ZengSpringerOpenGeothermal Energy2195-97062023-12-0111112710.1186/s40517-023-00275-1Optimizing scenarios of a deep geothermal aquifer storage in the southern Upper Rhine GrabenIngrid Stober0Martin Jägle1Thomas Kohl2Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of FreiburgFraunhofer-Institut Für Physikalische Messtechnik IPMGeothermics and Reservoir Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of TechnologyAbstract Based on a newly developed geological 3D reservoir model for the demonstration site of the ‘Freiburger Bucht’ in the Upper Rhine Graben (SW Germany), geothermal development and realization concepts of an aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) in the Buntsandstein aquifer were elaborated and energetically evaluated by numerical modeling. The thermal–hydraulic coupled modeling was performed with the FE-software OpenGeoSys and COMSOL. For this purpose, the geological model was converted into a numerical model and calibrated by local and regional, hydrogeological and geothermal measured values. A detailed study based on two-phase storage-heating cycles per year with constant injection temperature on the ‘hot side’ of the ATES, different volumetric flow rates, and temperature spreads was performed to quantify possible storage capacities, energies, and efficiencies. The calculated efficiency of the cyclic storage operation in this study, averaged over 10 storage heating cycles, are between 50 and 85%, depending on flow rate and temperature spread. The efficiency of the individual storage heating cycles increases from year to year in all scenarios considered, as the ‘hot side’ of the storage heats up in the long term. To increase ATES’ efficiency, also horizontal wells were integrated into the numerical model and the results were compared with those of inclined wells.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40517-023-00275-1
spellingShingle Ingrid Stober
Martin Jägle
Thomas Kohl
Optimizing scenarios of a deep geothermal aquifer storage in the southern Upper Rhine Graben
Geothermal Energy
title Optimizing scenarios of a deep geothermal aquifer storage in the southern Upper Rhine Graben
title_full Optimizing scenarios of a deep geothermal aquifer storage in the southern Upper Rhine Graben
title_fullStr Optimizing scenarios of a deep geothermal aquifer storage in the southern Upper Rhine Graben
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing scenarios of a deep geothermal aquifer storage in the southern Upper Rhine Graben
title_short Optimizing scenarios of a deep geothermal aquifer storage in the southern Upper Rhine Graben
title_sort optimizing scenarios of a deep geothermal aquifer storage in the southern upper rhine graben
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40517-023-00275-1
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AT thomaskohl optimizingscenariosofadeepgeothermalaquiferstorageinthesouthernupperrhinegraben