Grant: Alliance Grants
University of Toronto
$318,574.00
Phase change material based fluid emulsion for enhanced geothermal recovery
FY 2021-22
Summary
The overall energy conversion efficiency for conventional geothermal power plants is low compared to fossil fuel and nuclear power plant (>30%). Improving this efficiency is a key challenge for geothermal systems, and a necessary step to wider adoption of the technology. Eavor Technologies Inc. has pioneered a new closed-loop geothermal approach, which adapts horizontal drilling methods pioneered in unconventional oil and gas operations to clean geothermal heat extraction. The Eavor-Loop levers powerful passive thermosiphon pumping and as a closed system, permits the use of engineered working fluids that can more effectively extract heat from rock formations deep underground.The Sinton group is partnering with Eavor Technologies to develop and test working fluids that will increase the heat recovery rate and overall efficiency of the Eavor Loop. A 10% increase in thermal performance would have broad implications for the industry and accelerate the scaling and deployment of this made-in-Canada closed-loop geothermal technology. Phase change materials are excellent candidates and are the primary focus of this partnership. In a geothermal recovery fluid system such as the Eavor Loop, phase change material can store heat as latent heat, which increases the effective heat capacity of the fluid blend during the geothermal cycle. There are many phase change material candidates that are suitable for working at geothermal pressures (such as Al2(SO4)3-16H2O), as well as the extended pressure and temperature range of interest to Eavor. The Sinton group is the global leader in the area of microfluidic-based chemical performance testing, with particular strength in subsurface energy applications and associated temperatures and pressures. Just as Eavor's renewable energy approach is enabled by technology first developed for the oil and gas industry, the proposed fluid development approach here is enabled by the Sinton group`s past experience in chemical effectiveness testing for the oil and gas industry. Through this Alliance, these technologies will be innovated, adapted and applied - by Eavor and U of T team members together - to advance renewable energy.
Program
Alliance Grants
Recipient
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
549600-2019
Name nom
Sinton, David
Department département
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Organization id
31
Institution établissement
University of Toronto
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2021
Competition year année de concours
2019
Award amount
318574
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
306
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy efficiency
Area of application fr
Efficacité énergétique
Research subject code
2200
Research subject group en
Fluid mechanics
Research subject group fr
Mécanique des fluides
Research subject en
Fluid mechanics
Research subject fr
Mécanique des fluides
Installment
inst:2
Partie
1
Nb partie
3
Application title
Phase change material based fluid emulsion for enhanced geothermal recovery
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
The overall energy conversion efficiency for conventional geothermal power plants is low compared to fossil fuel and nuclear power plant (>30%). Improving this efficiency is a key challenge for geothermal systems, and a necessary step to wider adoption of the technology. Eavor Technologies Inc. has pioneered a new closed-loop geothermal approach, which adapts horizontal drilling methods pioneered in unconventional oil and gas operations to clean geothermal heat extraction. The Eavor-Loop levers powerful passive thermosiphon pumping and as a closed system, permits the use of engineered working fluids that can more effectively extract heat from rock formations deep underground.The Sinton group is partnering with Eavor Technologies to develop and test working fluids that will increase the heat recovery rate and overall efficiency of the Eavor Loop. A 10% increase in thermal performance would have broad implications for the industry and accelerate the scaling and deployment of this made-in-Canada closed-loop geothermal technology. Phase change materials are excellent candidates and are the primary focus of this partnership. In a geothermal recovery fluid system such as the Eavor Loop, phase change material can store heat as latent heat, which increases the effective heat capacity of the fluid blend during the geothermal cycle. There are many phase change material candidates that are suitable for working at geothermal pressures (such as Al2(SO4)3-16H2O), as well as the extended pressure and temperature range of interest to Eavor. The Sinton group is the global leader in the area of microfluidic-based chemical performance testing, with particular strength in subsurface energy applications and associated temperatures and pressures. Just as Eavor's renewable energy approach is enabled by technology first developed for the oil and gas industry, the proposed fluid development approach here is enabled by the Sinton group`s past experience in chemical effectiveness testing for the oil and gas industry. Through this Alliance, these technologies will be innovated, adapted and applied - by Eavor and U of T team members together - to advance renewable energy.
