www.merid.org
7/17/2009
Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), United States, have developed a new method for capturing significantly more heat from low-temperature geothermal resources. Geothermal holds promise as a clean energy source as it has no greenhouse gas emissions and is a steady and dependable source of power.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has estimated that enhanced geothermal systems could provide 10% of the United States' overall electrical generating capacity by 2050. PNNL's method uses a new liquid developed by PNNL, called biphasic fluid, that will rapidly expand and contract, when exposed to heat brought to the surface from water circulating in moderately hot, underground rock.
The thermal cycling of the biphasic fluid will power a turbine to generate electricity. The scientists also added nanostructured metal-organic heat carriers (MOHCs) to boost the power generation capacity to near that of a conventional steam cycle. Pete McGrail, PNNL Laboratory Fellow, said "[B]y the end of the calendar year, we plan to have a functioning bench-top prototype generating electricity. If successful, enhanced geothermal systems like this could become an important energy source." The article can be viewed online at the link below.
The original article may still be available at www.pnl.gov/topstory.asp?id=383
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