International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
ISSN 2319 - 4847
Special Issue for National Conference On Recent Advances in Technology and Management for
Integrated Growth 2013 (RATMIG 2013)
Geothermal Energy – An Emerging Field for
Electrical Power Generation in India
Hemant M. Dighade1, Anand B. Prasad2
1, 2
Student, B. E. Final Year (Electrical Engineering),
Guru Nanak Institute of Engg. and Tech., Nagpur-441 501.
ABSTRACT
Using thermal energy from Earth’s core is a very old concept. Power plants using geothermal energy for the production of electrical
power are already functioning in most of the parts of the world. Whereas in India, installation of geothermal power plant is still in
process. The inclusion of these plants in the existing energy generation system will definitely help to minimize the increasing electrical
energy demand. This paper deals with the study of locations of various geothermal sites available, installation and the future growth of
geothermal power plants in India.
Keywords: Geothermal energy, power generation, geothermal sites, geothermal heat pumps.
1. INTRODUCTION
Electrical energy is one of the important aspects for carrying out the life process. The need of electrical energy is increasing
with increasing population. This ever increasing need can be curtailed by using power generating sources other than the
existing conventional sources. There are various nonconventional power generating sources including solar and wind.
Geothermal energy is “Earth’s Energy” [1]. The thermal energy extracted from earth’s core is called as geothermal energy.
Geothermal energy can be used for the generation of the electrical energy by extracting the heat from the rocks by natural or
forced circulation of water. Further the steam from the heated water is used for running the turbine. The turbines acts as
prime movers for generators and hence using generators the electrical energy can be produced. Geothermal plants however
established in most of the parts throughout the world. In some counties, the geothermal plants contributing to 25% of total
power generation [2].
2. GEOTHERMAL SITES AND THERMAL ENERGY EXTRACTION
Geothermal energy is present over the entire extent of earth’s surface. Only difference is the procedure and cost of extraction
[3]. The thermal energy in Earth is generated from radioactive decay and continual heat loss during Earth’s formation [4].
Earth is made up three layers namely crust, mantle and metallic core. Temperature at the core mantle boundary may reach
over 40000 C. The high temperature and pressure causes some rocks to melt and solid mantle to behave practically. This
result in upward convection of mantle, as it is lighter than the surrounding rock. Rock and water is heated in the crust u to
3700 C [3]. Figure 1 show hottest known geothermal sides in the world.
Organized By: GNI Nagpur, India
International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
ISSN 2319 - 4847
Special Issue for National Conference On Recent Advances in Technology and Management for
Integrated Growth 2013 (RATMIG 2013)
Fig.1 HOTTEST KNOWN GEOTHERMAL SIDES IN THE WORLD
Injection well and production wells are bored into earth for the exchange of heat. An injection well is a vertical pipe in the
ground into which water, other liquids, or gases are pumped and are allowed to flow. Whereas, a geothermal production well
produces fluid heated by the natural heat of the earth. Apart from using geothermal energy for power plants only, it is also
used for heating and cooling purposes of houses in winter and summer seasons respectively. For this purpose, the injection
and production wells are used. The length of the injection and the production well depends up on the geographic conditions
of the region and availability of geothermal site below earth. Figure 2 [5] shows the heat exchange mechanism which is
installed in a house premises. Exchange of heat is done by using Geothermal Heat Pumps (GHP). Basically GHP is a central
heating or cooling system which is use to pump heat from or to ground.
Fig. 2 TYPES OF HEAT EXCHANGE MECHANISM FOR HOUSEHOLD PURPOSES
Geothermal energy is being widely used in some parts of the world having geothermal potential sites. The major countries
using geothermal energy for generating electrical power are given in table 1 [4]. The contribution of geothermal energy in
their total electricity production is also indicated.
Table 1. INSTALLED GEOTHERMAL ELECTRIC CAPACITY
Country
United States
Philippines
Indonesia
Mexico
Capacity (MW)
2010
3086
1904
1197
958
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Percentage of national
electricity production
0.3
27
3.7
3
International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
ISSN 2319 - 4847
Special Issue for National Conference On Recent Advances in Technology and Management for
Integrated Growth 2013 (RATMIG 2013)
Italy
New Zealand
Iceland
Japan
Iran
El Salvador
Kenya
Costa Rica
Nicaragua
TOTAL
843
628
575
536
250
204
167
166
88
1.5
10
30
0.1
25
11.2
14
10
10602
3. GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT
The geothermal power plants are just like the thermal power plants. The only difference is the use for fuel for the production
steam for driving the turbine. A conventional thermal power plant generally uses coal as its fuel, whereas heat from the earth
is used in geothermal power plant. The geothermal power plants have been classified on the basis on geothermal fuel used
and thermodynamic cycle adopted [3]. The three main types of geothermal power plants are [6] :
3.1 Dry Steam Power Plant
The dry steam plants are the simplest and oldest in construction and design. The geothermal steam of 150 0 C or more is used
to run the turbines. Figure 3 [7] shows the working of dry steam power plants.
Fig. 3 DRY STEAM POWER PLANT
3.2 Flash Steam Power Plant
In flash steam power plants, high pressure hot water is pulled deep into the lower pressure tanks. Working of flash steam
power plant can be understood by seeing the figure 4 [7]. In this case, temperature of water and steam is more than 180 0 C.
Organized By: GNI Nagpur, India
International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
ISSN 2319 - 4847
Special Issue for National Conference On Recent Advances in Technology and Management for
Integrated Growth 2013 (RATMIG 2013)
Fig. 4 FLASH STEAM POWER PLANT
3.3. Binary Cycle Power Plant
In binary cycle power plants, the moderately hot geothermal water is passed by a secondary fluid with a much lower boiling
point than water. Because of this, the secondary fluid vaporizes and drives the turbine. This type of plant is the most recent
development. The thermal efficiency of such plants is about 10% to 30%. Figure 5 [7] shows the operation of binary cycle
power plants.
Fig. 5 BINARY CYCLE POWER PLANT
4. GEOTHERMAL SITES IN INDIA
According to the “Load Generation Balance Report 2013-2014” of India, the energy requirement for the year 2012-2013 have
registered a growth of 6.5% while the projected growth was of 5.1% [8]. This shows the increasing demand for electrical
Organized By: GNI Nagpur, India
International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
ISSN 2319 - 4847
Special Issue for National Conference On Recent Advances in Technology and Management for
Integrated Growth 2013 (RATMIG 2013)
energy. The increasing demand of electrical energy up to certain extent can be minimized by using geothermal energy. For
this purpose geothermal sites across India have been identified.
Fig. 6 GEOTHERMAL SITES IN INDIA
The figure 6 [9] shows available geothermal sites in India. The regions highlighted in green colour are the possible
geothermal sites, from where the geothermal energy can be extracted. As it can be seen from the figure 6, states like Jammu
Kashmir, Delhi, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and some others have the potential sites for the geothermal
power plants. Till now in Chhattisgarh, implementation of geothermal power plant is in process. Gujarat state is also in
process of installing the geothermal power plant. Apart from geothermal power plants, the GHPs may also be installed in
houses in the regions having geothermal potential sites. By using GHPs during summer and winter seasons proper cooling
and heating can be achieved.
5. CONCLUSION
Geothermal energy is the clean form of energy. The geothermal energy will become the important from of energy for the
country’s growth in near future. Geothermal energy will be implemented for house cooling and heating purposes. In India, if
suitable number of geothermal power plants at the available geothermal potential sites will be installed, then the geothermal
energy’s contribution for the production of electrical energy will be remarkable. Seeing the energy requirements, geothermal
energy will become most important part of energy generation in coming years.
REFERENCES
[1]
Dr. B. R. Gupta; Generation of Electrical Energy.
[2]
Geothermal Electricity, Wikipedia.
[3]
Rajesh M Holmukhe’ “Geothermal Power Generation An Overview”, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, College of
Engineering Pune, India.
[4]
Geothermal Energy Wikipedia.
[5]
http://boerbrothershvac.com/geothermal/.
Organized By: GNI Nagpur, India
International Journal of Application or Innovation in Engineering & Management (IJAIEM)
Web Site: www.ijaiem.org Email: editor@ijaiem.org, editorijaiem@gmail.com
ISSN 2319 - 4847
Special Issue for National Conference On Recent Advances in Technology and Management for
Integrated Growth 2013 (RATMIG 2013)
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
“Emerging Technologies in Electricity Generation”, An ENERGY MARKET ASSESSMENT March 2006, National
Energy Board, Canada.
Geothermal Energy, Britannica.
“www.cea.nic.in/reports/yearly/lgbr_report.pdf”, Central Electricity Authority of India.
www.mapsofindia.com.
Valgardur Stefansson, “The Renewability of Geothermal Energy”, Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2000
Kyushu - Tohoku, Japan, May 28 - June 10, 2000.
Subir K. Sanyal, “Future of Geothermal Energy”, Proceedings, Thirty-Fifth Workshop on Geothermal Reservoir
Engineering Stanford University, Stanford, California, February 1-3, 2010.
Authors
Hemant M. Dighade is Final Year Student of Department of Electrical Engineering, Guru Nanak
Institute of Engineering & Technology, Nagpur. He is perusing his project study in the area of satellite
solar power and power transmission on earth using microwave. He has published one paper in
international journal. His areas of interests include electrical power systems, renewable energy, power
electronics and linear electronic circuits.
Anand B. Prasad is Final Year Student of Department of Electrical Engineering, Guru Nanak
Institute of Engineering & Technology, Nagpur. His areas of interests include electrical power system
and non conventional energy sources.
Organized By: GNI Nagpur, India