Computational study of geothermal thermoelectric generators with phase change heat exchangers

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2022-10-01
Date
2020Author
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Acceso embargado / Sarbidea bahitua dago
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Artículo / Artikulua
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10.1016/j.enconman.2020.113120
Abstract
The use of thermoelectric generators with phase change heat exchangers has demonstrated to be an interesting and environmentally friendly alternative to enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) in shallow hot dry rock fields (HDR), since rock fracture is avoided. The present paper studies the possibilities of the former proposal in a real location: Timanfaya National Park (Canary Islands, Spain), one of ...
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The use of thermoelectric generators with phase change heat exchangers has demonstrated to be an interesting and environmentally friendly alternative to enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) in shallow hot dry rock fields (HDR), since rock fracture is avoided. The present paper studies the possibilities of the former proposal in a real location: Timanfaya National Park (Canary Islands, Spain), one of the greatest shallow HDR fields in the world, with 5000 m2 of characterized geothermal anomalies presenting temperatures up to 500 °C at only 2 m deep. For this purpose, a computational model based on the thermal-electrical analogy has been developed and validated thanks to a real prototype, leading to a relative error of less than 8%. Based on this model, two prototypes have been designed and studied for two different areas within the park, varying the size of the heat exchangers and the number of thermoelectric modules installed. As a result, the potential of the solution is demonstrated, leading to an annual electricity generation of 681.53 MWh thanks to the scalability of thermoelectric generators. This generation is obtained without moving parts nor auxiliary consumption, thus increasing the robustness of the device and removing maintenance requirements. [--]
Subject
Publisher
Elsevier
Published in
Energy Conversion and Management 221 (2020) 113120
Departament
Universidad Pública de Navarra. Departamento de Ingeniería /
Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa. Ingeniaritza Saila /
Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa. ISC - Institute of Smart Cities
Publisher version
Sponsorship
The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the Spanish State Research Agency and FEDER–UE under the grant RTC-2017-6628-3; as well as the FPU Program of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (FPU16/05203).