TU Darmstadt / ULB / TUprints

Finite element simulation of permeable fault influence on a medium deep borehole thermal energy storage system

Seib, Lukas ; Welsch, Bastian ; Bossennec, Claire ; Frey, Matthis ; Sass, Ingo (2025)
Finite element simulation of permeable fault influence on a medium deep borehole thermal energy storage system.
In: Geothermal Energy : Science – Society – Technology, 2022, 10 (1)
doi: 10.26083/tuprints-00028751
Article, Secondary publication, Publisher's Version

[img] Text
s40517-022-00224-4.pdf
Copyright Information: CC BY 4.0 International - Creative Commons, Attribution.

Download (3MB)
Item Type: Article
Type of entry: Secondary publication
Title: Finite element simulation of permeable fault influence on a medium deep borehole thermal energy storage system
Language: English
Date: 14 January 2025
Place of Publication: Darmstadt
Year of primary publication: 7 September 2022
Place of primary publication: Berlin ; Heidelberg
Publisher: SpringerOpen
Journal or Publication Title: Geothermal Energy : Science – Society – Technology
Volume of the journal: 10
Issue Number: 1
Collation: 21 Seiten
DOI: 10.26083/tuprints-00028751
Corresponding Links:
Origin: Secondary publication DeepGreen
Abstract:

Solutions for seasonal energy storage systems are essential for the reliable use of fluctuating renewable energy sources. As part of the research project SKEWS, a medium deep borehole thermal energy storage system with a depth of 750 m is under construction at Campus Lichtwiese in Darmstadt, Germany, to demonstrate this innovative technology. Prior to the design of SKEWS, the geological context in the surroundings of the project location was investigated using archive drilling data and groundwater measurements. The geologic survey suggests the assumption that the uppermost part of the intended storage domain is crosscut by a normal fault, which displaces the Permian rocks east of Darmstadt against granodioritic rocks of the Odenwald crystalline complex. A 3D finite-element numerical model was implemented to estimate the effect of the potentially higher hydraulic conductivity of the fault zone on the planned storage system. For this purpose, a storage operation over a time span of 30 years was simulated for different parametrizations of the fault zone. The simulations reveal a limited but visible heat removal from the storage region with increasing groundwater flow in the fault zone. However, the section of the borehole thermal energy storage system affected by the fault is minor compared to the total depth of the system. This only constitutes a minor impairment of the storage efficiency of approximately 3%. In total, the amount of heat extracted varies between 320.2 GWh and 326.2 GWh for the different models. These findings can be helpful for the planning and assessment of future medium deep borehole thermal energy storage systems in fractured and faulted crystalline settings by providing data about the potential impact of faults or large fractures crosscutting the storage system.

Uncontrolled Keywords: Medium deep-BTES, Fault permeability, Basement rock, FE-model
Identification Number: Artikel-ID: 15
Status: Publisher's Version
URN: urn:nbn:de:tuda-tuprints-287514
Classification DDC: 500 Science and mathematics > 550 Earth sciences and geology
Divisions: 11 Department of Materials and Earth Sciences > Earth Science > Geothermal Science and Technology
Exzellenzinitiative > Graduate Schools > Graduate School of Energy Science and Engineering (ESE)
Date Deposited: 14 Jan 2025 09:37
Last Modified: 14 Jan 2025 09:38
SWORD Depositor: Deep Green
URI: https://tuprints.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/id/eprint/28751
PPN:
Export:
Actions (login required)
View Item View Item