Intermediate grade geothermal energy

增强型地热能是一种储量丰富、碳基负荷低的能源，不需要高温度梯度或热源(中级地热能)。这些热量可以通过使用当代创新的钻井技术来提取。通过深入地下钻探，HDR EGS可以在地球上大多数地区获得更大规模的热资源。EGS的潜力是巨大的--麻省理工学院最近的一份报告估计，美国大陆以下2%的热量可以提供全国年总能耗的2500倍(麻省理工学院，2006年)。该研究项目将包括一种数值方法，使用有限元方法执行完全耦合的热-水-力学有限元分析，以研究应变、应力和位移场。研究活动将包括评估不同的参数及其对诱发地震活动的影响。数值模式将在头四个月开发，结果将在接下来的两个月产生。 这项研究是岩土工程公司Borealis GeopPower与滑铁卢大学的Dipanjan Basu博士首次合作。Borealis GeopPower将根据他们在加拿大地下勘探的经验，通过提供地下属性的输入参数和值，直接参与研究。这一研究项目将有利于北方地热电力公司提高其在中级地热系统方面的运营专业知识。北极星将经常与滑铁卢研究团队举行会议，并花费技术时间讨论模拟结果。这项研究将为加拿大中级地热发电系统的经济技术分析奠定坚实的基础。

The Enhanced geothermal energy (EGS) is an abundant, low-carbon base-load energy source that does not require high temperature gradient or heat source (intermediate-grade geothermal energy). This heat can be extracted by using the contemporary innovative drilling technology. By drilling deep into the ground, HDR EGS can enable access to an even larger scale heat resource in most parts of the planet. The potential for EGS is vast - a recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology report estimated that 2% of the heat below the continental United States could provide 2,500 times the country's total annual energy use (MIT, 2006). The research project will consist of a numerical approach using the finite element method to perform a fully coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical finite element analysis to investigate the strain, stress and displacement field. The research activities will include the assessment of different parameters and their effects on induced seismicity. The numerical model will be developed in the first four months and the results will be generated in the next two months. This research venture is a first time collaboration between the geotechnical engineering company Borealis Geopower and Dr. Dipanjan Basu from University of Waterloo. Borealis Geopower will directly participate in the research by providing input parameters and values of subsurface properties based on their experience in exploring the Canadian subsurface. This research project will benefit Borealis Geopower in enhancing their operational expertise in intermediate grade geothermal energy systems. Borealis will have frequent meetings with the Waterloo research team and spend technical time to discuss the simulation results. This proposed research will lay a solid foundation for the economical/technical analysis of intermediate geothermal electricity systems in Canada.