Geothermal Energy
Geothermal EnergyGEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth. It's clean and
sustainable. Resources of geothermal energy range from the shallow
ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the
Earth's surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high
temperatures of molten rock called magma.
Radiogenic heat, heat is continuously generated by the decay of
radioactive isotopes of long, such as uranium (U238, U235), thorium
(232Th) and potassium (K40) life that are in Earth. Geothermal
means "Heat of the Earth." This heat flows due to the movement of
tectonic plates (areas subduction of oceanic expansion and rift
floor).
Binary Cycle Systems. Cycle binary systems can be utilized in
medium-enthalpy hydrothermal reservoirs (100 -200 C C ), where
liquid water predominates. Such plants employ a second working
fluid with a boiling point (at atmospheric pressure) less than
water, such as isopentane, freon, iso-butane, etc., Which is
vaporized and used to drive the turbine
These systems also have the advantage of allowing use of
medium-temperature geothermal fields , allowed the exploitation of
deposits in aquifers with a higher percentage of impurities ,
especially if they are under such pressure to not occur sudden
evaporation. The liquid extracted from the aquifer , once it has
given up its heat to the working fluid in the heat exchanger , it
returns back to the reservoir. The fluido secundario works
according to the conventional Rankin cycle . The working fluid ,
become heated as it passes through the evaporator vapor is directed
to the turbine in order to drive it . The generator mechanically
coupled to the turbine, is in charge of generating electricity. The
gases of the working fluid , once expanded in the turbine , is
condensed in a heat exchanger . The heat exchanger is water-cooled
by a cooling circuit having.
The binary cycle plants are usually built in small modular units
, which can be interconnected to form power plants tens of
megawatts. In the 1990s a new development cycle, called Kalina
cycle, which is more efficient than conventional Rankin cycles ,
but in a more complex design. This cycle uses as working fluid a
mixture of water and ammonia, which is expanded ( in terms of
heating) through the high pressure turbine and is then reheated
prior to driving the low-pressure turbine .
Advantages of Energy Geothermal. * Factor plants to plant 95% of
installed capacity. * Well managed field can have very long life
time. Laderdello over 100 years. * Environmental footprint is
minimal compared to other renewable. * It emits no harmful
emissions to the environment. * Its range of applications is very
wide.
Disadvantages of Energy Geothermal. * High initial cost of
exploration. * High risk in the early stages. * Start of
development takes a long time
Current Uses of Geothermal Energy in Guatemala Power Generation:
* Zunil I, 24 MW * Ortitln, 20 MW Direct uses (industrial): *
Monolit (cured concrete products) * Agro La Laguna (dehydration of
fruit) * Lemonex (dehydration of fruit) Recreational (spas, steam):
* Amatitln (SPA) * Quetzaltenango * Totonicapn * San Marcos
Geothermal Fields In Guatemala
