Grant: Alliance Grants

The objective of this project is to extend the applicability of the Geothermal energy utilization in process generated wasted energy streams. Although the proposal is focused on Western Canada, the findings are applicable throughout Canada and the rest of the world. Based on precursory work by the PI and Shor in 2019 and 2020 to investigate the feasibility of geothermal and waste heat recovery through a series of capstone design projects, the Geothermal Energy Lab was launched in early in 2021 with an industry launch workshop with 13 attending organizations in May 2021. Six critical research themes were identified as (1) exploration, (2) modelling and characterization of thermal properties of reservoir rock, (3) well construction, (4) thermodynamic processes, (5) sustainability and social license and (6) regulation. The proposal addresses two complementary challenges, optimizing and enhancing geothermal heat recovery, priority area (2), and maximizing its use through optimal surface facilities, priority area (4). This proposal continues the build out of complementary projects within the Geothermal Energy Laboratory. The program is divided into two groups of projects. In the first group we investigate transport phenomena in enhanced geothermal systems, dealing partially with heat transfer from porous or non-porous rocks into heat-carrying fluids that carry energy to surface. This work involves both developing experimental techniques for property measurements and modelling techniques for process response prediction dealing with the pore-level aspects of heat transfer in porous media. In the second component of the proposal, we address the transformation of Alberta waste heat into power. The program covers transformation of energy coming to surface into electrical power (adaptation of traditional geothermal energy to individual applications), as well as other possible techniques for energy harvesting and utilization in Alberta communities. The project will train 12 M.Sc. students, 5 PhDs and 8 PDFs. The participants include government organizations that will contribute to mentoring but also companies that are ready and have targets for field implementation of the outcomes of this research.