Estimating Limits for the Geothermal Energy Potential of Abandoned Underground Coal Mines: A Simple Methodology
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Brief Description of the Proposed Method
3. Empirical Estimation of Limit Values for Parameter k
3.1. Case History 1: La Camocha Colliery
3.2. Case History 2: Figaredo Colliery
3.3. Determination of Parameter k Based on Experience
4. Analytical and Semi-Empirical Estimation of Limit Values for Parameter K
5. Using the model
5.1. Estimation of the Geothermal Power of a Mine
5.2. Estimation the Geothermal Power for Several Mines in the Same Coalfield
5.3. Could the Total Geothermal Power of Abandoned Mines in Europe be Estimated?
6. Conclusions
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- Although mines present a high potential for geothermal utilization, there are only few cases known in Europe where this potential has been detected, and accurately used.
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- A method has been developed to allow a non-complex estimation of the limits for the geothermal potential of an abandoned underground coal mine, from the value of its total production.
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- The method is useful for making geothermal resource estimates for given mining regions where coal extraction data are available; it should not be used to design a geothermal system at a mine site.
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- The specific maximum and minimum values, kmin = 0.25 and kmax = 1.0, could also be applied in coal regions similar to Asturias. Many parameters can influence these values, as for example thermal properties and hydrogeological characteristics of the rockmass, average temperature of virgin rock and gradient of temperature with depth, climate and average temperatures of the air and the river water and mining methods…etc. Consequently, values of kmin and kmax could be different in other regions.
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- Assuming that the application of the formula has a high level of uncertainity, it has been estimated that an underground coal mine has a geothermal power of approximately 2.5 MWt per each 10,000,000 of tonnes produced.
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- At least approximately 3000 MWt could be used from underground coal mines in the European Union, without including base-metals mines; the potential for coal mines is equivalent to 3,000 eolic generators or thereabouts, to the energy supplied by a wind power park with 90 generators for each country in the European Union.
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- If this energy potential were used, an important reduction in CO2 emissions of approximately 5 million tonnes of CO2 per year could be reached.
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- A good practice in mining management would be to make some mine-measurements, such as recording air flow rates, quantity of water actually pumped or air and water temperatures; this data would be of the most interest for future studies, especially when approaching the mine closure date.
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Díez, R.R.; Díaz-Aguado, M.B. Estimating Limits for the Geothermal Energy Potential of Abandoned Underground Coal Mines: A Simple Methodology. Energies 2014, 7, 4241-4260. https://doi.org/10.3390/en7074241
Díez RR, Díaz-Aguado MB. Estimating Limits for the Geothermal Energy Potential of Abandoned Underground Coal Mines: A Simple Methodology. Energies. 2014; 7(7):4241-4260. https://doi.org/10.3390/en7074241
Chicago/Turabian StyleDíez, Rafael Rodríguez, and María B. Díaz-Aguado. 2014. "Estimating Limits for the Geothermal Energy Potential of Abandoned Underground Coal Mines: A Simple Methodology" Energies 7, no. 7: 4241-4260. https://doi.org/10.3390/en7074241