Numerical Modeling of the Interference of Thermally Unbalanced Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage Systems in Brussels (Belgium)

Manon Bulté, Thierry Duren, Olivier Bouhon, Estelle Petitclerc, Mathieu Agniel and Alain Dassargues
Additional contact information
Manon Bulté: Geological Engineering, Urban and Environmental Engineering Unit, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Thierry Duren: ARTESIA Ltd. Hydrogeology & Environment, Liège Science Park, 4031 Liège, Belgium
Olivier Bouhon: ARTESIA Ltd. Hydrogeology & Environment, Liège Science Park, 4031 Liège, Belgium
Estelle Petitclerc: Geothermal Energy, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Geological Survey of Belgium, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Mathieu Agniel: Water Department, Brussels Environment, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Alain Dassargues: Hydrogeology & Environmental Geology, Urban and Environmental Engineering Unit, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-17

Abstract: A numerical model was built using FEFLOW ® to simulate groundwater flow and heat transport in a confined aquifer in Brussels where two Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) systems were installed. These systems are operating in adjacent buildings and exploit the same aquifer made up of mixed sandy and silty sublayers. The model was calibrated for groundwater flow and partially for heat transport. Several scenarios were considered to determine if the two ATES systems were interfering. The results showed that a significant imbalance between the injection of warm and cold water in the first installed ATES system led to the occurrence of a heat plume spreading more and more over the years. This plume eventually reached the cold wells of the same installation. The temperature, therefore, increased in warm and cold wells and the efficiency of the building’s cooling system decreased. When the second ATES system began to be operational, the simulated results showed that, even if the heat plumes of the two systems had come into contact, the influence of the second system on the first one was negligible during the first two years of joint operation. For a longer modeled period, simulated results pointed out that the joint operation of the two ATES systems was not adapted to balance, in the long term, the quantity of warm and cold water injected in the aquifer. The groundwater temperature would rise inexorably in the warm and cold wells of both systems. The heat plumes would spread more and more over the years at the expense of the efficiency of both systems, especially concerning building’s cooling with stored cold groundwater.

Keywords: confined aquifer; heat storage; ATES; groundwater modeling; heat transport modeling; thermal imbalance; urban engineering (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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