Abstract
Aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) is used for seasonal storage of large quantities of thermal energy. Due to the increasing demand for sustainable energy, the number of ATES systems has increased rapidly, which has raised questions on the effect of ATES systems on their surroundings as well as their thermal performance. Furthermore, the increasing density of systems generates concern regarding thermal interference between the wells of one system and between neighboring systems. An assessment is made of (1) the thermal storage performance, and (2) the heat transport around the wells of an existing ATES system in the Netherlands. Reconstruction of flow rates and injection and extraction temperatures from hourly logs of operational data from 2005 to 2012 show that the average thermal recovery is 82 % for cold storage and 68 % for heat storage. Subsurface heat transport is monitored using distributed temperature sensing. Although the measurements reveal unequal distribution of flow rate over different parts of the well screen and preferential flow due to aquifer heterogeneity, sufficient well spacing has avoided thermal interference. However, oversizing of well spacing may limit the number of systems that can be realized in an area and lower the potential of ATES.
Résumé
Le stockage d’énergie thermique en aquifère (STEA) est utilisé pour le stockage saisonnier de grandes quantités d’énergie thermique. A cause de l’augmentation de la demande pour des énergies durables, le nombre de systèmes STEA a augmenté rapidement, ce qui a fait émerger des questions sur l’effet des systèmes STEA sur leur environnement proche ainsi que sur leur performance thermique. De plus, l’augmentation de la densité des systèmes génère une inquiétude sur les interférences thermiques entre les puits d’un système et entre les systèmes voisins. Une évaluation est faite sur (1) la performance du stockage thermique et (2) le transport de chaleur autour des puits de systèmes STEA existants aux Pays Bas. La reconstitution des débits et des températures d’injection et d’extraction à partir d’enregistrements horaires des données opérationnelles entre 2005 et 2012 montre que le taux de récupération thermique est de 82 % pour le stockage froid et de 68 % pour le stockage chaud. Le transport de chaleur dans le sous-sol est enregistré à partir de capteurs de température distribués. Bien que les mesures révèlent une distribution inégale des débits pour différentes sections des crépines des forages et un écoulement préférentiel dû à l’hétérogénéité de l’aquifère, un espace suffisant entre forages a évité une interférence thermique. Cependant, le surdimensionnement de l’espace entre les forages peut limiter le nombre de systèmes qui peuvent être réalisés dans une région et diminuer le potentiel des STEA.
Resumen
El almacenamiento de energía termal en acuíferos (ATES) se utiliza para el almacenamiento estacional de grandes cantidades de energía termal. Debido a la creciente demanda de energía sustentable, el número de sistemas ATES se ha incrementado rápidamente, lo cual ha planteado cuestiones sobre los efectos de los sistemas ATES en sus alrededores y también acera de su rendimiento termal. Más aún, la creciente densidad de sistemas genera preocupación en la interferencia termal entre los pozos de un sistema y entre los sistemas vecinos. Se realizó una evaluación de: (1) el rendimiento del almacenamiento termal, y (2) el transporte de calor alrededor de los pozos de un sistema ATES existente en Holanda. La reconstrucción de los caudales de flujo y las temperaturas de inyección y extracción a partir de registros horarios de los datos operacionales desde 2005 a 2012 muestran que el promedio de recuperación termal es de 82 % para el almacenamiento frío y de 68 % para almacenamiento de calor. El transporte de calor en el subsuelo es monitoreado usando un sensoramiento distribuido de temperaturas. Aunque las mediciones revelan una distribución desigual de los caudales de flujo sobre diferentes partes del filtro y flujo preferencial debido a la heterogeneidad del acuífero, un espaciado suficiente de pozos ha evitado la interferencia termal. Sin embargo, sobredimensionar el espaciado de los pozos puede limitar el número de sistema que puede ser operativos en un área y disminuir el potencial de ATES.
Resumo
O armazenamento de energia térmica em aquíferos (ATES) é usado para armazenamento sazonal de grandes quantidades de energia térmica. Devido à crescente necessidade de energia sustentável, o número de sistemas ATES tem aumentado rapidamente, o que levantou questões sobre o efeito dos ATES nas suas proximidades, bem como sobre o seu desempenho térmico. Para além do mais, o aumento da densidade dos sistemas gera preocupações sobre a interferência térmica entre os furos de um sistema e entre sistemas vizinhos. É feita uma avaliação: (1) do desempenho do armazenamento térmico, e (2) do transporte de calor em redor dos furos num sistema ATES existente na Holanda. A reconstrução das taxas de fluxo e as temperaturas de injeção e de extração a partir de registos horários dos dados operacionais de 2005 a 2012 mostram que a recuperação térmica média é de 82 % para o armazenamento de frio e de 68 % para o armazenamento de calor. O transporte de calor de subsuperfície é monitorizado através da utilização de sensores de temperatura distribuídos no aquífero. Apesar das medições revelarem uma distribuição desigual das taxas de fluxo em diferentes posições dos ralos nos furos e fluxos preferenciais devidos à heterogeneidade do aquífero, um espaçamento suficiente dos furos tem evitado a interferência térmica. No entanto, o aumento do espaçamento entre furos pode limitar o número de sistemas que podem ser constituídos numa determinada área e baixar o potencial dos ATES.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank Deltares for installing the glass fiber temperature monitoring system, IF Technology for sharing operational data from the BMS, and Utrecht University for allowing access to their ATES system for investigations within this study.
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Published in the theme issue “Hydrogeology of Shallow Thermal Systems”
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Sommer, W.T., Doornenbal, P.J., Drijver, B.C. et al. Thermal performance and heat transport in aquifer thermal energy storage. Hydrogeol J 22, 263–279 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1066-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1066-0