Geothermal energy, one of the renewable energy, is known as a heat energy which is stored and generated in the subsurface. In the conventional geothermal systems associated with areas of volcanic activity, the geothermal fluid is usually pumped from a well and flows into a heat exchanger to generate electricity. In enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), hydraulic stimulation is applied. Once the reservoir is created, water introduced through an injection well is heated in the deep reservoir and comes out from a production well.<br/>The geothermal energy resources have been utilized for a long time, but there are several problems that have not been completely solved yet. One of them is related to chemistry of the geo-fluids which has various ions and gaseous materials in it. Due to the chemical compositions of bed rocks or temperature changes, scaling and corrosion could occur in various parts of the geothermal system. To compare the differences of the scaling and corrosion types between the conventional geothermal system and the EGS, the conventional system in Iceland and the EGS in France were designated. The bed rock in one area is formed with basaltic lava, while the bed rock in other area is granite. By a series of numerical simulations, the chemical reactions related to the scaling and corrosion were evaluated in two different systems. Different types of precipitations occur in different geological or geochemical conditions including temperature, bed rock type, and fluid compositions.

Comparing scaling formation in different geothermal systems

2019 Fall National Meeting

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