Tue, 10 September, 2024
A recording of the recent GeoSmart project webinar, 'Innovative Geothermal Plants: ORC Hybrids and Advanced Thermal Storage Systems' is now available to view online.
The event, which took place on 9 September, 2024, provided details of research conducted as part of the EU-funded GeoSmart Project, with a focus on two topics; ’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 opened the webinar with a discussion of the development of PCM (phase change material)-based thermal energy storage systems for geothermal plants.
Dr Paul went on to explore the process of selecting optimal PCMs and construction materials suitable for operation at the specific temperature ranges encountered in geothermal applications. He explained the testing procedures that exposed various construction materials to molten PCMs before offering a detailed analysis of corrosion rates. Visual documentation of the materials both before and after this exposure was shared, 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) discussed research focused on integrating concentrating solar thermal (CST) technologies into existing geothermal plants. This included an investigation into different modelling strategies to develop a hybrid geothermal plant using CST technologies and thermal storage through the utilisation of Fraunhofer ISE’s in-house solar-thermal modelling tool, ColSimCSP. There was also be a discussion of the preliminary results of an optimisation study that indicates the potential improvements in the techno-economic performance of geothermal plants through the adoption of solar technologies.
Those who missed the event, or would like to see it again, can view a recording of the webinar, below:
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Grant agreement 818576.