GeothermalEnergy

MEASURING GEOTHERMAL ACTIVITY

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Geothermal energy is used in industrial applications, office buildings and homes, in over 20 different countries including Iceland, the United States and China to generate electricity or to heat and cool buildings.

Thermal energy is a renewable resource derived from the earth’s internal heat, contained in the rocks and fluids beneath the earth’s crust.

For the most part, geothermal energy is a clean, widely available, resource. Geothermal power plants involve no combustion and emit very low levels of greenhouse gases.

HOW?

WHO?WHAT?W H Y ?

Geothermal energy is cultivated and converted for use by power plants. The three types of commercial power plants are, Flash Steam, Dry Steam and Binary Power Plants.

Geothermal energy is a renewable energy resource that is constantly being generated by the earth, around the clock, every day. This energy is harvested from the heat produced within the earth that rises to the earth’s surface in the form of hot springs, volcanoes, geysers and underground reservoirs.

• Residential and Industrial heating• Balneology (Hot Spring & Spas)• Agriculture (Greenhouse, Milk Pasteurizing & Soil Warming)• Aquaculture (Farming of Fish, Prawn & Alligators)• Industrial Uses (Product Drying & Warming)

the energy from the earth.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH ALL OF THIS ENERGY?

Temperature, pressure and flow rate are just some of the types of data that can be monitored at a geothermal facility.

Temperature levels need to be monitored when entering or exiting a system to ensure temperatures are cool enough or hot enough for the next phase.

Temperature:

Pressure is essential when it comes to flash steam power plants. To produce flash steam, the pressure keeps the water in a liquid state as it travels through the steam separator, even though the water temperature is well above the boiling point. Once it reaches the surface, the pressure is relieved and the water flashes into steam.

Pressure:

Monitoring flow rate is important to regulate the water flow volume and speed in each type of plant.

Flow Rate:

FUN FACTS ABOUT GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

is a famous hot spring area near

Nagano, Japan. Well known for the large population of wild Snow Monkeys that go to the hot springs during the winter to stay warm.

Jigokudani Monkey Park

Collect

the energy into a type of power source, electricity as an example.

Convert

the energy to power office buildings and homes.

Use

1

2

3

were the most well known for utilizing hot springs primarily for bathing and spas, but they also used them for food preparation, agriculture, greenhouses & more.

3rd century BCE (300 BCE)

The oldestknown use of geothermal energy, is a hot

water spa located in China dating back to the

Adjective | The word geothermal comes from two Greek words, Geo meaning “earth” and

Therme meaning “heat”. Geothermal energy rises to the earth’s surface in many forms like

volcanoes, geysers, hot springs & even in underground reservoirs.

Since 20 BCE the Roman Civilization

How do we measure that data?To grow and maintain efficiency, this industry needs to collect data, analyze it and use it to validate and optimize each system’s performance.

Data Loggers and data logging software are essential tools for this task. Durable and reliable data loggers used for geothermal applications are designed to withstand harsh environments. Data logging software helps by storing electronic records and making data easy to analyze and share in reports.

PR2000

PRESSURE RECORDER

F1 F2 F3 F4

The Earth’s soil stays at a constant

50°F to 60°F and the

Earth’s core is hotter than the surface of

the Sun!

In colder places like Oregon, USA, pipes of geothermal water are installed under sidewalks and roads to keep them from icing over during the harsh winter months.

Yellowstone National Parkwas the world’s first national park, established in

1872.The park alone contains half of all

the world’s known geothermal features like geysers, hot springs and other thermal areas. The last

full-scale eruption at Yellow-stone occurred almost

640,000 thousand years ago.

In the United States, it is projected that geothermal energy use will

increase and cover 10% of

the country’s ELECTRICAL

demands by year 2050.

Sources:• “Geothermal Energy.” Renewable Energy World.com. Renewable Energy World.com, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2015. <http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/geothermal-energy>.• “Geothermal, Harnessing Renewable Energy for Power Generation.” Geothermal. Chevron, May 2014. Web. 03 Mar. 2015. <http://www.chevron.com/deliveringenergy/geothermal/>.• “Energy.gov.” ENERGY.GOV. ENERGY.GOV, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2015. <http://energy.gov/eere/geothermal/history-geothermal-energy-america>.• “Geothermal Energy, Tapping the Earth’s Heat.” National Geographic. National Geographic, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2015. <http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/geothermal-profile/>.• “Geothermal Basics - Basics.” Geothermal Basics - Basics. Geothermal Energy Association, June 2013. Web. 03 Mar. 2015. <http://geo-energy.org/basics.aspx>.• “Why Support Geothermal Energy?” Geothermal Energy Association. Geothermal Energy Association, 2 Mar. 2012. Web. 3 Mar. 2015. <http://geo-energy.org/pdf/FINALforWEB_WhySupportGeothermal.pdf>.• “Geothermal Energy 101 - Green Mountain Energy Company.” Green Mountain Energy Company. Green Mountain Energy Company, n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2015. <https://www.greenmountainenergy.com/why-green/renewable-energy-101/geothermal-energy-101/>.• “Introduction to Geothermal Energy.” Introduction to Geothermal Energy - East Mesa, CA, Flash Plant. Geothermal Education Office, 2000. Web. 3 Mar. 2015. <http://geothermal.marin.org/geopresentation/sld055.htm>.• “12 World Famous Geysers and Hot Springs.” Touropia. Touropia, 21 Jan. 2014. Web. 03 Mar. 2015. <http://www.touropia.com/world-famous-geysers-and-hot-springs/>.• Lubofsky, Evan. “Monitoring Geothermal Heat Pumps.” Monitoring Geothermal Heat Pumps. Sensors Online, 1 Feb. 2010. Web. 03 Mar. 2015. <http://www.sensorsmag.com/da-control/monitoring-geothermal-heat-pumps-6745>.• “Renewable Resourceful Victoria.” Energy and Earth Resources. State Government of Victoria, 21 July 2010. Web. 6 Mar. 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.energyandresources.vic.gov.au%2Fenergy%2Fsustainable-energy%2Frenewable%2Fpart-2>.• Right, Anton. “Geothermal Energy Facts.” Renewable Green Energy Power RSS. Renewable Green Energy Power, 20 May 2012. Web. 06 Mar. 2015. <http://www.renewablegreenenergypower.com/geothermal-energy-facts/>.• Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2015. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geothermal>.• Stober, Ingrid, and Kurt Bucher. “Chapter 2.” Geothermal Energy: From Theoretical Models to Exploration and Development. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 15-24. Print.