Course objectives: Introducing students to deal comprehensively with the various energy conversion systems that can be brought to bear to exploit the energy contained in the geothermal fluids found in the reservoir. Since geothermal energy is extremely site specific, the fluids found in various sites around the world have dramatically different technical characteristics, creating engineering challenges that demand innovation. The students will also deal with specific aspects that influence the design and economics of geothermal projects, including means of discharging waste heat, how to cope with fluids that produce scale and corrosion, ways to mitigate environmental effects, and meeting regulations, obtaining permits, and financing.

Course content:

• Introduction to geothermal power generation;
• Overview of geothermal energy conversion systems: reservoir-wells-piping-plant-reinjection;
• Elements of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer applied to geothermal energy conversion systems;
• Flash steam geothermal energy conversion systems: single-, double-, and triple-flash and combined-cycle plants;
• Direct steam geothermal energy conversion systems: dry steam and superheated steam plants;
• Total flow and other systems involving two-phase expansion;
• Binary geothermal energy conversion systems: basic Rankine, dual-pressure, and dual-fluid cycles;
• Combined and hybrid geothermal power systems;
• Waste heat rejection methods in geothermal power generation;
• Silica scale control in geothermal plants;
• Low-enthalpy resources as solution for power generation;
• District heating and characteristics of a modern district heating system;
• Energy sources for district heating and cooling;
• Cogeneration, biomass, waste to energy, industrial waste heat and geothermal energy for district heating;
• Energy storage for district energy systems;
• Prediction and operational planning in district heating and cooling systems;
• Project permitting, finance, and economics for geothermal power generation and district heating system.

Learning outcomes at the level of the course:

• Analyse specific aspects that influence the design and economics of geothermal projects;
• Solve various energy conversion systems to exploit the energy contained in the geothermal fluids found in the reservoir;
• Design and choose adequate geothermal power plant system depending on enthalpy resource;
• Elaborate economics of geothermal power plant projects, including means of discharging waste heat economics;
• Evaluate ways to mitigate environmental effects, and meeting regulations, obtaining permits, and financing.