Abstract
The efficiency of heat recovery in high-temperature (>60 °C) aquifer thermal energy storage (HT-ATES) systems is limited due to the buoyancy of the injected hot water. This study investigates the potential to improve the efficiency through compensation of the density difference by increased salinity of the injected hot water for a single injection-recovery well scheme. The proposed method was tested through numerical modeling with SEAWATv4, considering seasonal HT-ATES with four consecutive injection-storage-recovery cycles. Recovery efficiencies for the consecutive cycles were investigated for six cases with three simulated scenarios: (a) regular HT-ATES, (b) HT-ATES with density difference compensation using saline water, and (c) theoretical regular HT-ATES without free thermal convection. For the reference case, in which 80 °C water was injected into a high-permeability aquifer, regular HT-ATES had an efficiency of 0.40 after four consecutive recovery cycles. The density difference compensation method resulted in an efficiency of 0.69, approximating the theoretical case (0.76). Sensitivity analysis showed that the net efficiency increase by using the density difference compensation method instead of regular HT-ATES is greater for higher aquifer hydraulic conductivity, larger temperature difference between injection water and ambient groundwater, smaller injection volume, and larger aquifer thickness. This means that density difference compensation allows the application of HT-ATES in thicker, more permeable aquifers and with larger temperatures than would be considered for regular HT-ATES systems.
Résumé
Le rendement de la récupération de la chaleur dans des systèmes de stockage d’énergie thermique en aquifère à haute température (>60 °C) (HT-ATES) est limitée à cause de la force ascensionnelle de l’eau chaude injectée. Cette étude examine dans quelle mesure il est possible d’améliorer le rendement grâce à la compensation de la différence de densité en augmentant la salinité de l’eau chaude injectée pour un puits unique d’injection-récupération. La méthode proposée a été testée par le biais d’un modèle numérique utilisant le code SEAWATv4 considérant un HT-ATES saisonnier de quatre cycles consécutifs d’injection-stockage-récupération. Les rendements de récupération pour les cycles consécutifs ont été étudiés pour six cas avec trois scénarios simulés : (a) HT-ATES ordinaire, (b) HT-ATES avec une compensation de la différence de densité en utilisant une eau salée, et (c) HT-ATES théorique ordinaire sans convection thermique libre. Pour le cas de référence, dans lequel une eau de 80 °C a été injectée dans un aquifère à perméabilité élevée, le HT-ATES ordinaire avait un rendement de 0.40 après quatre cycles consécutifs de récupération. La méthode de compensation de la différence de densité conduit à un rendement de 0.69, se rapprochant du cas théorique (0.76). L’analyse de sensibilité a montré que l’augmentation du rendement net en utilisant la méthode de compensation de la différence de densité au lieu d’un HT-ATES ordinaire est plus grande pour une conductivité hydraulique d’aquifère plus élevée, une plus grande différence de température entre l’injection et l’eau souterraine environnante, un plus petit volume injecté, et une plus grande épaisseur d’aquifère. Cela signifie que la compensation de la différence de densité permet l’application d’un HT-ATES dans des aquifères plus épais, plus perméables et avec de plus grandes températures que ce qui pourrait être considéré pour des HT-ATES ordinaires.
Resumen
La eficiencia de recuperación de calor en sistemas de almacenamiento de energía térmica (HT-ATES) en acuíferos de alta temperatura (>60 °C) es limitada debido a la flotabilidad del agua caliente inyectada. Este estudio investiga el potencial de mejorar la eficiencia a través de la compensación de la diferencia de densidad por el aumento de la salinidad del agua caliente inyectada para un esquema de pozos de recuperación de inyección única. El método propuesto se puso a prueba a través de la modelización numérica con SEAWATv4 considerando un HT-ATES estacional de cuatro ciclos consecutivos de almacenamiento y recuperación de la inyección. Se investigaron las eficiencias de recuperación para ciclos consecutivos de seis casos con tres escenarios simulados: (a) HT-ATES regular, (b) HT-ATES con la compensación de la diferencia de densidad usando agua salina, y (c) HT-ATES teórico regular sin convección térmica libre. Para el caso de referencia, en el que se inyectó el agua a 80 °C en un acuífero de alta permeabilidad, el HT-ATES regular tenía una eficiencia de 0.40 después de cuatro ciclos de recuperación consecutivos. El método de compensación por diferencia de densidad dio lugar a una eficiencia de 0.69, que se aproxima al caso teórico (0.76). El análisis de sensibilidad mostró que el aumento neto de la eficiencia mediante el uso del método de compensación de diferencia de densidad en lugar del HT-ATES regular es mayor para una conductividad hidráulica del acuífero más alta, para una mayor diferencia de temperatura entre la inyección y el agua subterránea, para un volumen de inyección más pequeño, y para un mayor espesor del acuífero. Esto significa que la compensación por diferencia de densidad permite la aplicación de HT-ATES en acuíferos de mayor espesor y más permeables y con temperaturas mayores de lo que se considera para los sistemas regulares de HT-ATES.
摘要
由于注入的热水浮性,高温(>60 °C)含水层热能储存系统热回收效率受到限制。本项研究调查了通过密度差补偿提高效率的潜力,密度差补偿通过单个的注入-回收计划中注入的热水增加的盐度来完成。考虑到四个连续的注入-储存-回收周期的季节性高温含水层热能储存,通过采用SEAWATv4数值模拟对所提出的方法进行了检测。研究了连续周期回收效率三种模拟方案下的六种情况:(a)常规的高温含水层热能储存,(b)伴有采用咸水进行密度差补偿的高温含水层热能储存,(c)没有自由热对流的理论上常规的高温含水层热能储存。在80°C热水注入到高透水性含水层的参考案例中,常规的高温含水层热能储存的效率在四个连续的回收周期之后为0.40。密度差补偿方法的效率为0.69,接近理论案例(0.76)。灵敏度分析显示,采用密度差补偿方法而不是采用常规的高温含水层热能储存,纯效率在较高的含水层水力导水系数下增加的要多,注入水和周围地下水之间的温度差要大,注入量较小,含水层厚度较大。这意味着,密度差补偿可以在比适用于常规高温含水层热能储存系统的含水层有更高温度、厚度更大、透水性更大的含水层中应用高温含水层热能储存。
Samenvatting
Het terugwinrendement van warmte tijdens ondergrondse hoge temperatuur opslag (HTO, >60 °C) wordt beperkt door de thermisch-gedreven opdrijving van het geïnjecteerde hete water. In deze studie is onderzocht of voor een HTO-put het rendement waarmee geïnjecteerde warmte kan worden teruggewonnen verbeterd kan worden met het verhogen van de saliniteit van het geïnjecteerde hete water om zo het dichtheidsverschil te compenseren. Middels numerieke simulatie in SEAWATv4 is deze methode om dichtheidsverschil te compenseren getest voor seizoensgebonden HTO voor vier opeenvolgende cycli van injectie-opslag-recovery. Het terugwinrendement voor de opeenvolgende cycli is onderzocht voor zes gevallen met elk drie gemodelleerde scenario’s: (a) conventionele HTO, (b) HTO met dichtheidsverschil-compensatie door gebruik te maken van zout water, (c) conventionele HTO voor een theoretisch scenario zonder opdrijving. Het terugwinrendement tijdens conventionele HTO is 0.40 na vier cycli voor de conventionele HTO, waarbij water van 80 °C is geïnjecteerd in een grondwaterpakket met een hoge permeabiliteit. Met de dichtheidsverschil-compensatie methode is het terugwinrendement 0.69. Deze waarde ligt dicht in de buurt van het rendement voor het theoretische scenario (0.76). De gevoeligheidsanalyse laat zien dat de toename in terugwinrendement met de dichtheidsverschil-compensatie methode ten opzichte van conventionele HTO het grootst is voor de gevallen met een hogere doorlatendheid van het grondwaterpakket, grotere temperatuurverschillen tussen injectiewater en grondwater, kleinere injectievolumes en dikkere grondwaterpakketten. Dit betekent dat het gebruik van dichtheidsverschil-compensatie tijdens HTO het mogelijk maakt HTO toe te passen in grondwaterpakketten met een grotere dikte en een hogere doorlatendheid en met hogere injectie temperaturen, dan welke er tot nu toe gebruikelijk worden beschouwd voor conventionele HTO-systemen.
Resumo
A eficiência da recuperação de calor em altas temperaturas (>60 °C) em sistemas aquíferos de armazenamento de energia térmica (high-temperature aquifer thermal energy storage/HT-ATES) é limitada devido a força hidrostática da água quente injetada. Este estudo investiga o potencial para melhor a eficiência através da compensação da diferença de densidade por aumento de salinidade da água quente injetada por um sistema de poço de injeção-recuperação único. O método proposto foi testado através da modelagem numérica com SEAWATv4 considerando HT-ATES sazonais de quatro ciclos consecutivos de injeção-armazenamento-recuperação. Eficiências de recuperação para os ciclos consecutivos foram investigadas por seis casos com três cenários simulados: (a) HT-ATES regular, (b) HT-ATES com compensação da diferença de densidade usando água salina, e (c) HT-ATES regular teórico sem convecção térmica livre. Para o caso de referência, no qual a água à 80 °C foi injetada para dentro do aquífero de alta-permeabilidade, HT-ATES regular teve uma eficiência de 0.40 depois de quatro ciclos consecutivos de recuperação. O método de compensação da diferença de densidade resultou numa eficiência de 0.69, aproximando-se ao caso teórico (0.76). Análise de sensibilidade mostrou que o aumento na eficiência líquida por uso do método de compensação da diferença de densidade ao invés do HT-ATES regular é maior para maiores condutividades hidráulicas do aquífero, maior diferença de temperatura entre injeção e águas subterrâneas ambientes, menor volume de injeção, e maior espessura do aquífero. Isto significa que a compensação da diferença de densidade permite a aplicação de HT-ATES em aquíferos mais espessos, mais permeáveis e com temperatura maior do que poderia ser considerado por sistemas HT-ATES regulares.
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The authors thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive feedback, which allowed us to improve the manuscript significantly.
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van Lopik, J.H., Hartog, N. & Zaadnoordijk, W.J. The use of salinity contrast for density difference compensation to improve the thermal recovery efficiency in high-temperature aquifer thermal energy storage systems. Hydrogeol J 24, 1255–1271 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-016-1366-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-016-1366-2