Aquifer thermal energy storage: A numerical simulation of field experiments in China

1990 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 2365-2375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuqun Xue ◽  
Chunhong Xie ◽  
Qingfen Li
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage

Field Experiments in Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage

1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 322-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Melville ◽  
F. J. Molz ◽  
O. Gu¨ven
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Energy Recovery ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Scale Field ◽  
Large Scale Field

Large scale field experiments in aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) were conducted between September, 1976, and November, 1982. Volumes of 7,700 m3, 54,800 m3, 58,000 m3, 24,400 m3, 58,000 m3, and 58,680 m3 were injected at average temperatures of 35.0° C, 55.0° C, 55.0° C, 58.5° C, 81.0° C, and 79.0° C, respectively, in an aquifer with ambient temperature of 20.0° C. Based on recovery volumes equal to the injection volumes, the respective energy recovery efficiencies were 69, 65, 74, 56, 45, and 42 percent. Primary factors in reduction of efficiency were aquifer nonhomogeneity and especially convection due to buoyancy of the injection volumes.

Environmental impacts of aquifer thermal energy storage investigated by field and laboratory experiments

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthijs Bonte ◽  
Boris M. Van Breukelen ◽  
Pieter J. Stuyfzand
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Temperature Effects ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Potential Temperature ◽  
Arsenic Concentration ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Field Investigations

Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) uses groundwater to store energy for heating or cooling purposes in the built environment. This paper presents field and laboratory results aiming to elucidate the effects that ATES operation may have on chemical groundwater quality. Field data from an ATES site in the south of the Netherlands show that ATES results in chemical quality perturbations due to homogenisation of the initially present vertical water quality gradient. We tested this hypothesis by numerical modelling of groundwater flow and coupled SO4 transport during extraction and injection of groundwater by the ATES system. The modelling results confirm that extracting groundwater from an aquifer with a natural quality stratification, mixing this water in the ATES system, and subsequent injection in the second ATES well can adequately describe the observation data. This mixing effect masks any potential temperature effects in typical low temperature ATES systems (<25 °C) which was the reason to complement the field investigations with laboratory experiments focusing on temperature effects. The laboratory experiments indicated that temperature effects until 25 °C are limited; most interestingly was an increase in arsenic concentration. At 60 °C, carbonate precipitation, mobilisation of dissolved oxygen concentration, K and Li, and desorption of trace metals like As can occur.

scholarly journals Numerical Modeling of the Interference of Thermally Unbalanced Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage Systems in Brussels (Belgium)

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 6241
Author(s):  
Manon Bulté ◽  
Thierry Duren ◽  
Olivier Bouhon ◽  
Estelle Petitclerc ◽  
Mathieu Agniel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Heat Transport ◽  
Thermal Energy ◽  
Thermal Energy Storage ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Joint Operation ◽  
Groundwater Temperature ◽  
Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage

A numerical model was built using FEFLOW® to simulate groundwater flow and heat transport in a confined aquifer in Brussels where two Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) systems were installed. These systems are operating in adjacent buildings and exploit the same aquifer made up of mixed sandy and silty sublayers. The model was calibrated for groundwater flow and partially for heat transport. Several scenarios were considered to determine if the two ATES systems were interfering. The results showed that a significant imbalance between the injection of warm and cold water in the first installed ATES system led to the occurrence of a heat plume spreading more and more over the years. This plume eventually reached the cold wells of the same installation. The temperature, therefore, increased in warm and cold wells and the efficiency of the building’s cooling system decreased. When the second ATES system began to be operational, the simulated results showed that, even if the heat plumes of the two systems had come into contact, the influence of the second system on the first one was negligible during the first two years of joint operation. For a longer modeled period, simulated results pointed out that the joint operation of the two ATES systems was not adapted to balance, in the long term, the quantity of warm and cold water injected in the aquifer. The groundwater temperature would rise inexorably in the warm and cold wells of both systems. The heat plumes would spread more and more over the years at the expense of the efficiency of both systems, especially concerning building’s cooling with stored cold groundwater.

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