My Geothermal Idea

[faslan]

Geothermal energy especially in volcanic regions.dig as much as possible and send fresh water to turn in to steam and run power generator

Edited April 9, 2014 by faslan

[Tim the plumber]

That's almost how they do it. The steam is condensed and the water sent back down, you don't want to bring all those minerals up and polute the surface with them unnecessarily.

 

The question has to be asked;

 

Compared to the cost of 1 nuclear power station how expensive would it be to build a big geothermal power station or 20 in Yellow stone and some high capacity cables to send it around the USA? I'm sure it's billions but....

 

Europe can use Iceland and Etna.

[Daniel Zrmanjac]

Hey why don't they even do it? is it beacuse yellowstone is a national park?

[EdEarl]

I don't know why they don't do geothermal in Yellowstone, but it's probably because of cost. However, the bore for geothermal power may weaken the underlying strata and promote Earthquakes and possibly an eruption. I think the amount of heat in Yellowstone is so much greater than might be tapped for power that it is an insignificant fraction, and would not drain the heat away from the underlying lava to prevent eruption. I think economics and geology do not favor a power plant in that location. Although, further investigation and development in the future might change the equation.

[Rajthesmart1234]

Fluids drawn from the deep earth carry a mixture of gases, notably carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methane (CH4) and ammonia (NH3). These pollutants contribute to global warming, acid rain, and noxious smells if released. Thus it would be safe to condense the water and send it down, rather than polluting the eenvironment

[Dekan]

Faslan's OP envisages drilling a deep hole, then pouring water down it.

When the water hits the deep levels, it gets heated up. It starts to boil, and produces steam, which emerges at the top of the.hole.

The emerging steam contains heat, which can be converted into mechanical energy - by using the steam to push a steam-turbine round.

And the turbine can then push a dynamo round, which will generate electric power

 

This is good, but do we really need the water? The water's only function seems to be this:

 

To conduct heat from the bottom of the hole, to the top.

 

Couldn't this function be performed just as well by a heat-conducting metal, such as copper?

Suppose we drilled a deep hole, then stuck a long copper rod down it. Wouldn't the top of the rod get hot, and provide energy which could be used to generate electric power?

[tar]

Dekan,

 

Or maybe the deep hole could be shaped in such a way as that cold (temperate) air would fall down the sides of the hole, drawn to the bottom by the "draft" of the hot air rising up a central "chimney". Your copper anchors could be embedded in the rock at the bottom, with fins and baffles, constructed just right to coax the cool air through, heat it up and send it up the chimney. The copper staying hot as the rock, being it has your rods of it attached to the baffle/fin area.

 

Wondering if the draft would be enough to power a wind turbine or two on the way up, and THEN find a way to power a turbine with the super hot air, using steam or whatever is the most efficient at that point.

 

Regards, TAR

Edited May 18, 2014 by tar

[lamironi]

Geothermal energy is a viable solution to a global crisis of energy. I think that in the future will be an important source of energy. It's completely renewable energy.

[Dekan]

Dekan,

 

Or maybe the deep hole could be shaped in such a way as that cold (temperate) air would fall down the sides of the hole, drawn to the bottom by the "draft" of the hot air rising up a central "chimney". Your copper anchors could be embedded in the rock at the bottom, with fins and baffles, constructed just right to coax the cool air through, heat it up and send it up the chimney. The copper staying hot as the rock, being it has your rods of it attached to the baffle/fin area.

 

Wondering if the draft would be enough to power a wind turbine or two on the way up, and THEN find a way to power a turbine with the super hot air, using steam or whatever is the most efficient at that point.

 

Regards, TAR

 

Yes, you make good suggestions. The hot air as it comes up the hole, could be used to blow windmill-blades round. But that sounds a bit 17th-Century.

 

In the 21st Century, couldn't we just build a nuclear reactor on the surface. Then stuff all its radioactive waste down the hole.

Geothermal energy is a viable solution to a global crisis of energy. I think that in the future will be an important source of energy. It's completely renewable energy.

 

I agree, that geothermal energy could be used. However, when you say: it's completely renewable, could you clarify how it gets renewed?

Edited May 26, 2014 by Dekan

[Enthalpy]

It is done. Not in Yellowstone nor at the Etna, but in the Rhine valley, thousands of kilometers to the next geyser.

 

Nuclear power plants are presently the most expensive option by far. Coal is cheap, gas less cheap, and meanwhile wind energy (factoring in that it runs at 25-35% capacity on mean, but not factoring in electricity storage which isn't still done on the proper scale) is cheaper than nuclear one.

 

Electricity transport is solved, wake up. Brazil did it 30 years ago from Itaipú to São Paulo for 13GW over 800km. Efficient and affordable. Same in Quebec and many places.