Grantee Research Project Results
An Innovative Design of Downhole In-Situ Power Generation: A Sustainable Manner of Geothermal Energy Utilization
EPA Grant Number: SU839292Title: An Innovative Design of Downhole In-Situ Power Generation: A Sustainable Manner of Geothermal Energy Utilization
Investigators: Wu, Xingru
Current Investigators: Wu, Xingru , Ji, Guomin , Wang, Huiyu , Wang, Kai , Chen, Yuxuan
Institution: University of Oklahoma
EPA Project Officer: Page, Angela
Phase: I
Project Period: February 1, 2018 through January 31, 2019
Project Amount: $15,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet (2017) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Sustainable and Healthy Communities , P3 Awards , P3 Challenge Area - Air Quality
Description:
This design will help increase thermal recovery efficiency by in-situ conversion of thermal energy to electricity to enhance the economic competitiveness of geothermal energy for large-scale utilization, capitalize on existing or even abandoned hydrocarbon recovery wells, and reduce the greenhouse gas emission and benefit the people, prosperity and planet by contributing to the environment protection.
Objective:
We are going to design an innovative in-situ power generation well prototype that can enhance the thermal conversion efficiency and minimize footprint on surface facility for a better environment and safer operation.
Approach:
This research will be a teamwork conducted by graduate students from petroleum engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering from the University of Oklahoma. This multidisciplinary team will work together with needed expertise to design, validate, and test the concept of the new geothermal recovery well prototype.
Expected Results:
The outcomes in this project will be expected and measured by: 1) A detailed diagram of wellbore structure for downhole power generation; 2) Evaluate the technical/operational feasibility of such a well; 3) Power generation calculation models to determine power generation efficiency; 4) A comparison of electricity generation capacity and efficiency between current surface power plant and proposed downhole power generation.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
renewable energy; geothermal energy utilization; energy recovery; geothermal power generation; electricity generation; geothermal reservoir engineeringProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.