Experimental and Numerical Analysis of the Efficacy of a Real Downhole Heat Exchanger

Muhammad Asad (), Vincenzo Guida and Alessandro Mauro
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Muhammad Asad: Department of Engineering, University of Naples Parthenope Italy, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Naples, Italy
Vincenzo Guida: Department of Engineering, University of Naples Parthenope Italy, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Naples, Italy
Alessandro Mauro: Department of Engineering, University of Naples Parthenope Italy, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Naples, Italy

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 19, 1-19

Abstract: In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model based on the finite element method (FEM) is developed to determine the fluid flow and heat transfer phenomena in a real multi-tube downhole heat exchanger (DHE), designed ad hoc for the present application, considering natural convection inside a geothermal reservoir. The DHE has been effectively installed and tested on the island of Ischia, in southern Italy, and the measurements have been used to validate the model. In particular, the authors analyze experimentally and numerically the behavior of the DHE based on the outlet temperature of the working fluid, thermal power, overall heat transfer coefficient, and efficiency. Furthermore, the influence of the degree of salinity on the performance of the DHE has been studied, observing that it degrades with the increase in the degree of salinity. The results show that the DHE allows to exchange more than 40 kW with the ground, obtaining overall heat transfer coefficient values larger than 450 W/m 2 K. At the degree of salinity of 180 ppt, a decrease in the efficiency of the DHE of more than 8% is observed.

Keywords: downhole heat exchanger; geothermal energy; experimental measurements; numerical modelling; 3D model (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: 2023
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