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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "H: Geo-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2020) | Viewed by 33658

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Prof. Dr. Barbara Tomaszewska

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Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Interests: geological conditions of healing and thermal waters; assessment of hydrogeochemical properties of waters and geothermal energy resources; multi-variant directions of water and geothermal energy management - cascade systems, comprehensive water use, balneology; thermal water treatment using membrane processes; forecasting and prevention of clogging of geothermal systems; sustainable and effective management of mineral resources and groundwater, while preserving the values of the natural environment; occurrence and problems resulting from increased levels of trace elements, including boron and arsenic in waters; soil and water environment monitoring, assessment of the chemical status of groundwater in a point, spatial and temporal system; assessment of the stability of the chemical composition of medicinal waters; legal conditions in geology and environmental protection
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am inviting submissions to a Special Issue of Energies on “Assessment, Management, and Treatment of Waters and Geothermal Systems”.

The rational management of water and energy and limiting climate change are the main challenges of the 21st century. Water scarcity and poor quality are the real problems for both well- and less-developed countries. Water stress is also observed in highly industrialized regions that paradoxically have a lot of water, but it is mostly not useful for direct consumption. That is why solutions regarding the sustainable supply of clean water and energy, including on the basis of geothermal water and energy, in the age of observed climate changes is one of the priority research areas on a global scale.

Water and energy are vital resources needed to resolve critical issues to build a sustainable and desirable economy, improve life conditions and health, and to avoid hunger in many parts of the world.

Water and energy management solutions rely on specific factors, such as resource availability and market factors, which can all be affected by national resource policies, fuel, and technology choices, as well as climate conditions.

This Special Issue will deal with water management and water treatment techniques for water harvesting, desalination, reuse technologies, and optimization of water treatment processes to achieve sustainable development.

Prof. Dr. Barbara Tomaszewska
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

water management
sustainable development
climate change
energy systems for water treatment
geothermal energy
geothermal water
water treatment
membrane technologies
renewable energy
optimization systems
earth and planetary sciences
fresh water

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 4581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low Enthalpy Geothermal Resources for Local Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Poland

by Aleksandra Szulc-Wrońska and Barbara Tomaszewska

Energies 2020, 13(19), 5010; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13195010 - 23 Sep 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2282

Abstract

Many regions in Poland face the problem of air pollution. These regions include, though are not exclusive, to health resorts, an important element of the healthcare industry. Poor air quality is mainly associated with the domestic sector, which is dominated by individual solid fuel and coal boilers. One option for reducing emissions is to use alternative energy sources for heating purposes. Therefore, the paper presents an analysis into the possibility of using low enthalpy (low temperature) geothermal energy in health resort areas. The main purpose of the article is to estimate the potential of soil and water as the lower source for a heat pump. The article presents analyses of geological and hydrogeological conditions based on which the thermal parameters of the rock mass were determined, which were thermal conductivity and unit heat output for 1800 operating hours per year. The calculated values were used to perform a spatial analysis of the data and create maps of the average thermal conductivity for horizontal ground heat exchangers (HGHE) to a depth of 2 and 10 m and vertical ground heat exchangers (VGHE) in depth ranges up to 30, 60, and 90 m. The heating power of the intakes, located in the research area, were estimated using empirical formulas. In addition, a detailed analysis of the physicochemical parameters of groundwater in terms of the requirements indicated by four heat pump manufacturers is presented. The results of the presented research makes it possible to assess the potential of low-temperature geothermal energy and to characterize the suitability of the selected location for the use of HGHE, VGHE, and wells. As a result, the discussed area was found to have a high potential for the use of ground source heat pumps and a moderate potential for the use of low-temperature systems based on groundwater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment, Management and Treatment of Waters and Geothermal Systems)

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16 pages, 3249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy and Exergy Analysis of Sensible Thermal Energy Storage—Hot Water Tank for a Large CHP Plant in Poland

by Ryszard Zwierzchowski and Marcin Wołowicz

Energies 2020, 13(18), 4842; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13184842 - 16 Sep 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2500

Abstract

The paper contains a simplified energy and exergy analysis of pumps and pipelines system integrated with Thermal Energy Storage (TES). The analysis was performed for a combined heat and power plant (CHP) supplying heat to the District Heating System (DHS). The energy and exergy efficiency for the Block Part of the Siekierki CHP Plant in Warsaw was estimated. CHP Plant Siekierki is the largest CHP plant in Poland and the second largest in Europe. The energy and exergy analysis was executed for the three different values of ambient temperature. It is according to operation of the plant in different seasons: winter season (the lowest ambient temperature T_ex = −20 °C, i.e., design point conditions), the intermediate season (average ambient temperature T_ex = 1 °C), and summer (average ambient temperature T_ex = 15 °C). The presented results of the analysis make it possible to identify the places of the greatest exergy destruction in the pumps and pipelines system with TES, and thus give the opportunity to take necessary improvement actions. Detailed results of the energy-exergy analysis show that both the energy consumption and the rate of exergy destruction in relation to the operation of the pumps and pipelines system of the CHP plant with TES for the tank charging and discharging processes are low. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment, Management and Treatment of Waters and Geothermal Systems)

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18 pages, 1075 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Inorganic Chromium Speciation in Geothermal Water of the Podhale Trough (Southern Poland) Used for Recreational Purposes

by Piotr Rusiniak, Katarzyna Wątor and Ewa Kmiecik

Energies 2020, 13(14), 3531; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13143531 - 8 Jul 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2070

Abstract

The results of total chromium determination (by ICP-OES method) in samples collected from nine working wells named GW₁–GW₉, exploiting geothermal water from the Podhale Trough (southern part of Poland, near the Tatra Mountains), which is used for recreational purposes, were implemented for hydrogeochemical modeling to indicate dominating chromium speciation. The reliability of the results was determined by the application of a quality assurance/quality control program, both in the laboratory and during field work. Based on chromium speciation, the risk associated with the utilization of geothermal water was calculated. The outcome showed that the concentration of Cr(III) is almost equal to the total chromium concentration (1–2 µg·L⁻¹). Cr_tot concentrations were also used in a health risk assessment in the case of epidermal absorption (EDI_derm) during bathing in thermal pools and four assumed scenarios in relation to the handling of geothermal water. The effect of the very low Cr_tot concentration in the analyzed water on health risk calculation was estimated as low (hazard quotient value <10⁻⁷). In the case of risk matrix analysis, the environmental risks were estimated as moderate, major and very severe, dependent on the assumed scenario. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment, Management and Treatment of Waters and Geothermal Systems)

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18 pages, 6538 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Utilization of Low Enthalpy Geothermal Resources to Electricity Generation through a Cascade System

by Michał Kaczmarczyk, Barbara Tomaszewska and Agnieszka Operacz

Energies 2020, 13(10), 2495; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13102495 - 15 May 2020

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 3984

Abstract

The article presents an assessment of the potential for using low temperature geothermal water from the C-PIG-1 well (Małopolskie Voivodship, southern Poland) for electricity generation, as the first stage in a geothermal cascade system. The C-PIG-1 well is characterised by a temperature of geothermal water of 82 °C and a maximum flow rate of 51.22 kg/s. Geothermal water is currently only utilised for recreation purposes in swimming pools. In such locations, with the potential to use renewable energy for energetic purposes, the possibility of comprehensive management of the geothermal waters extracted should be considered both in the first stage of the cascade and after recreational use. Thermodynamic calculations were conducted assuming the use of the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) or Kalina Cycle. Two variants were analysed—the use of the maximum flow rate of geothermal waters and partial use with an assumption of a priority for recreational/heating purposes. The analysis and calculations indicate that the gross capacity in the most optimistic variant will not exceed 250 kW for the ORC and 440 kW for the Kalina Cycle. As far as the gross electricity generation is concerned, for ORC this will not exceed 1.9 GWh/year and for the Kalina Cycle it will not exceed 3.5 GWh/year. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment, Management and Treatment of Waters and Geothermal Systems)

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32 pages, 14657 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Permian Zubers as the Host Rock for Deep Geological Disposal

by Leszek Lankof

Energies 2020, 13(9), 2239; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13092239 - 3 May 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2078

Abstract

Together with renewable energy sources, nuclear power represents an important contribution to a sustainable energy mix in many countries and has an important impact on sustainable development. Nuclear energy production is also a source of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) and spent nuclear fuel (SNF), which require special concern. Disposal in deep geological formations is one of the solutions for the long-term management of HLW and SNF. It requires the development of a concept ensuring long-term safe isolation of waste and its validation applying the safety case methodology, which is a formal compilation of evidence, analyses and arguments that quantify and justify a claim that the repository will be safe. The results of laboratory testing of a potential repository host rock are an important component of the evidence that helps in the safety assessment of the deep geological disposal concept. This paper presents results of research focused on the physical, geomechanical and sorption properties of the Brown and Red Zuber unit rocks from the Kłodawa Salt Mine in Poland, which together with rock salt are an important component of Polish salt domes. The Brown and Red Zubers are typical evaporite lithostratigraphic units for the Polish part of the Zechstein Basin. They consist of halite (15–85%) and water-insoluble minerals, such as anhydrite, clay minerals, carbonates, quartz and feldspar, which occurred in varying proportions in the tested samples. The properties of the zuber rocks have been compared with those of rock salt, which is considered a suitable host rock for deep geological disposal of radioactive waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment, Management and Treatment of Waters and Geothermal Systems)

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17 pages, 1555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nodal Matrix Analysis for Optimal Pressure-Reducing Valve Localization in a Water Distribution System

by Aditya Gupta, Neeraj Bokde, Kishore Kulat and Zaher Mundher Yaseen

Energies 2020, 13(8), 1878; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13081878 - 12 Apr 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2614

Abstract

The use of pressure-reducing valves is an efficient pressure management technique for leakage reduction in a water distribution system. It is recommended to place an optimized number and location of pressure-reducing valves in the water distribution system for better sustainability and management. A modified reference pressure algorithm is adopted from the literature for identifying the optimized localization of valves using a simplified algorithm. The modified reference pressure algorithm fails to identify the optimal valve localization in a large-scale water pipeline network. Nodal matrix analysis is proposed for further improvement of the modified reference pressure algorithm. The proposed algorithm provides the preferred pipeline for valve location among all the pressure-reducing valve candidate locations obtained from the modified reference algorithm in complex pipeline networks. The proposed algorithm is utilized for pressure management in a real water network located in Piracicaba, Brazil, called Campos do Conde II. It identifies four pipeline locations as optimal valve candidate locations, compared to 22 locations obtained from the modified reference pressure algorithm. Thus, the presented technique led to a better optimal localization of valves, which contributes to better network optimization, sustainability, and management. The results of the current study evidenced that the adoption of the proposed algorithm leads to an overall reduction in water leakages by 20.08% in the water network. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment, Management and Treatment of Waters and Geothermal Systems)

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20 pages, 5943 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Geological and Thermodynamic Analysis of Low Enthalpy Geothermal Resources to Electricity Generation Using ORC and Kalina Cycle Technology

by Michał Kaczmarczyk, Barbara Tomaszewska and Leszek Pająk

Energies 2020, 13(6), 1335; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13061335 - 13 Mar 2020

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5426

Abstract

The article presents an assessment of the potential for using low enthalpy geothermal resources for electricity generation on the basis of the Małopolskie Voivodeship (southern Poland). Identification the locations providing the best prospects with the highest efficiency and possible gross power output. Thermodynamic calculations of power plants were based on data from several geothermal wells: the Bańska PGP-1, Bańska IG-1, Bańska PGP-3 and Chochołów PIG-1 which are working wells located in one of the best geothermal reservoirs in Poland. As the temperature of geothermal waters from the wells does not exceed 86 °C, considerations include the use of binary technologies—the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and Kalina Cycle. The potential gross capacity calculated for existing geothermal wells will not exceed 900 kW for ORC and 1.6 MW for Kalina Cycle. In the case of gross electricity, the total production will not exceed 3.3 GWh/year using the ORC, and will not exceed 6.3 GWh/year for the Kalina Cycle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment, Management and Treatment of Waters and Geothermal Systems)

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13 pages, 2332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Review of the Low-Enthalpy Lower Cretaceous Geothermal Energy Resources in Poland as an Environmentally Friendly Source of Heat for Urban District Heating Systems

by Leszek Pająk, Barbara Tomaszewska, Wiesław Bujakowski, Bogusław Bielec and Marta Dendys

Energies 2020, 13(6), 1302; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13061302 - 11 Mar 2020

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2944

Abstract

The paper presents a review of the geological and hydrogeological data of the Lower Cretaceous aquifer in the Polish Lowlands and discusses the possibilities for the utilisation of geothermal water resources in existing and new district heating systems. Based on experience related to the use of thermal waters in existing geothermal systems, and using data from the literature, assessments have been made of the energy and environmental effects of the application of low-enthalpy geothermal resources from the Lower Cretaceous aquifer as a source of heat for urban district heating systems. The authors concluded that the implementation of such solutions could result in the production of approximately 4 PJ of geothermal energy annually. To date, these resources have only been developed in three locations—Mszczonów, Uniejów and Poddębice—with the total amount of energy generated annually reaching 100 TJ/year. Similar district heating networks in 120 nearby localities have been also identified. Here, specified geological and hydrogeological conditions enable the extraction of heat from the investigated Lower Cretaceous aquifer, with the aim of using this for heating purposes. To achieve this goal, multiple measures are required, including the following: raising public awareness through appropriate education programmes aimed at the youngest school children; systemic, efficient energy management measures at the central, regional and local levels, and providing financial support and ensuring regulations and laws aimed at improving the development of geothermal resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment, Management and Treatment of Waters and Geothermal Systems)

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23 pages, 2955 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Geothermal Fields in the South Pannonian Basin System Using a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Tool

by Tena Bilić, Sara Raos, Perica Ilak, Ivan Rajšl and Robert Pašičko

Energies 2020, 13(5), 1026; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13051026 - 25 Feb 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2814

Abstract

This paper analyses potential geothermal sites in North-East Croatia which is part of the Pannonian Basin System where a substantial geothermal potential was discovered during hydrocarbon exploration using the Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Tool specially developed for the purposes of the Horizon 2020 project: Multidisciplinary and multi-context demonstration of EGS exploration and Exploitation Techniques and potentials (H2020 MEET). Most of these sites use available geothermal energy potential for commercial purposes, mainly for balneology and more recently for agriculture and electricity generation. The case study involves five different geothermal locations chosen according to their geothermal potential, the current state of production and possible future development, including one oil field that is at the very end of its production life. Three potential final users’ types; agriculture demand, electricity generation demand and district heating have been evaluated for each of the five chosen geothermal sites. The conducted analysis should be of great benefit for further analyses which will be carried out using the aforementioned Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Tool. The performed study showed high consistency of obtained results and actual usage of five geothermal fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment, Management and Treatment of Waters and Geothermal Systems)

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16 pages, 5574 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energetic and Environmental Aspects of Individual Heat Generation for Sustainable Development at a Local Scale—A Case Study from Poland

by Michał Kaczmarczyk, Anna Sowiżdżał and Barbara Tomaszewska

Energies 2020, 13(2), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13020454 - 17 Jan 2020

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 4001

Abstract

The housing sector, especially with respect to energy generation to provide heating and domestic hot water, has been identified, after transport, as contributing the most to air pollution and the occurrence of low emissions in Poland. In particular, this applies to areas where there is a lack of heating and gas networks. This paper presents the results of calculations relating to the emission of atmospheric pollutants (TSP—total suspended particles as particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5, SO_x—sulphur dioxide, NO_x—nitrogen dioxide, CO—carbon monoxide) from individual sources of heat. The fact that a commune that does not have the network infrastructure, noted above, was taken into consideration, and the structure of heat generation was estimated on the basis of coal, fuel oil and biomass. The analysis was carried out taking into account the variable heat generation structure in households depending on the fuels used, including the heating values of fuels and the efficiency of heating devices. Based on the calculations carried out, an ecological effect was obtained by assuming the replacement of heat sources by devices with higher efficiency and also by considering the possibility of using heat pumps as a zero-emission solution in the households. This article attempts to answer the question posed by municipal authorities on how to limit the negative impact on the environment of individual heating devices in order to achieve sustainable development, including the specific conditions resulting from limited infrastructural opportunities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment, Management and Treatment of Waters and Geothermal Systems)

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Review

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13 pages, 2553 KiB

Open AccessReview

Geothermal Water Management Using the Example of the Polish Lowland (Poland)—Key Aspects Related to Co-Management of Drinking and Geothermal Water

by Magdalena Tyszer, Wiesław Bujakowski, Barbara Tomaszewska and Bogusław Bielec

Energies 2020, 13(10), 2412; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13102412 - 12 May 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2247

Abstract

Over the last few years, there has been an upsurge in the demand for drinking water and for water used in agriculture, industry, and others. Consequently, research is needed to find new technologies and methods for the comprehensive use of geothermal water sources, to provide for new resources of water. The paper shows the results of preliminary recognition in the case of the possible exploitation of the Jurassic aquifer in the Polish lowlands, considering the security of the adjacent layers. The considerations are based on experience in the exploitation of the resources of the Paris basin in France. Initial conclusions point to a high potential for such a solution, also in the Paris basin scientists are considering the use of previously unmanaged Jurassic resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Assessment, Management and Treatment of Waters and Geothermal Systems)

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