Tue, 11 June, 2024
Findings from the GeoSmart project are due to be presented at an online event taking place on 24 July 2024.
The event will focus on two topics related to this EU-funded project, ’Materials Selection for PCM-based Thermal Energy Storage System for Geothermal Plants’ and ‘Hybridization of the Kizildere 2 Geothermal Power Plant with Concentrating Solar Thermal Technologies.’
TWI’s Research and Product Development Programme Manager for Surface, Corrosion and Interface Engineering, Dr Shiladitya Paul will lead the webinar with an overview of the development of PCM (phase change material)-based thermal energy storage systems for geothermal plants.
Dr Paul will explore the process of selecting optimal PCMs and construction materials that are suitable for operation at the temperature ranges encountered in geothermal applications. He will explain testing procedures that exposed various construction materials to molten PCMs, allowing a detailed analysis of corrosion rates to be conducted. Visual documentation of the materials both before and after this exposure will be shared during the presentation, providing an understanding of material compatibility and performance.
Next, Nicholas Chandler, a Scientific Researcher and PhD Student at Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) will discuss research to integrate concentrating solar thermal (CST) technologies into existing geothermal plants. This will include an investigation into different modelling strategies used to develop a hybrid geothermal plant using CST technologies and thermal storage through Fraunhofer ISE’s in-house solar-thermal modelling tool, ColSimCSP. Nicholas will also discuss the preliminary results of an optimisation study, which indicates potential improvements in the techno-economic performance of geothermal plants through the adoption of solar technologies.
You can find out more about the GeoSmart project on the dedicated project website, here, and register to attend this event, here.
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Grant agreement 818576.