2022-2023 / GEOL1046-1

Geothermy

Duration

18h Th, 15h Pr, 40h Proj., 1d FW

Number of credits

 Master of Science (MSc) in Geological and Mining Engineering5 crédits 
 Master of Science (MSc) in Geological and Mining Engineering (joint-degree programme with the "Université polytechnique de Madrid")5 crédits 
 Master in geology (120 ECTS)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Alain Dassargues, Bertrand François

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Introduction (6h)



  • Heat transfer in saturated porous media (equations and main parameters) (A.Dassargues) 2h
  • Building energy needs (S. Attia) 2h
  • Heat pumps, performance coefficients, ... (P. Dewaleffe) 2h
Open systems (A.Dassargues) 4h



  • Introduction
  • Different systems including ATES (Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage)for shallow and deep open systems
  • Possible impacts on the gw resources (quantity, quality, cumulative aspects), permitting aspects
  • Hydrochemical aspects
  • Methodological aspects before and for an efficient design
Closed systems (in boreholes, piles, horizontal loops...) (B. François) 6h



  • Introduction
  • Characterization of the geothermal potential: empirical relations, thermal response test (TRT)
  • Design from different national recommendations
  • Modelling of temperature evolution in the ground
  • Seasonal heat storage
  • Long-term monitoring
  • Economic and environmental considerations
Potential and geological aspects of deep geothermy 2h



  • Invited seminar

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of the course, the student will have a strong basic skill in geothermy. He will be able to:
- be familiar with the main characteristics of geothermal systems;
- make adequate conceptual choices in the function of the local energy demand and local geological and hydrogeological conditions;
- collect and organize the needed data for a first assessment and then a feasibility study of the geothermal system;
- calculate basic feasibility aspects of a deep as well as of a shallow geothermal system;
- detect advantages and drawbacks in the choice of a site for geothermal use;
- assess/calculate the mid-and long-term behavior of a geothermal system in the function of the underground characteristics;
- assess possible impacts on the groundwater resources of a geothermal system.

This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, I.3, II.1, II.2, III.1, III.2, III.3, IV.1, IV.3, IV.4, IV.5, V.1, V.2, VI.1, VI.2, VI.3, VI.4, VII.1, VII.3, VII.5, VII.6 of the MSc in Geological and Mining engineering.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic knowledge and understanding of geology and hydrogeology. Elementary notions of physics (essentially thermodynamics) and chemistry. No official prerequisite course is compulsory.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is composed of "ex-cathedra" lectures (see content above). Practical work/exercise (30h) consists of a study of the ideal geothermal systems in one given site and for a given specific energy demand (i.e. on the basis of geological, hydrogeological, geomechanical, and thermal basic data, each group of students must prepare concurrent projects).

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Blended learning


Additional information:

Face-to-face for theory teaching. In groups for practical work.

Recommended or required readings

A pdf copy of slides and different publications will be made available on eCampus. For the shallow geothermy with open systems, it could be useful to check chapter 11 of the following book: Dassargues, A. 2018. Hydrogeology: groundwater science and engineering. Taylor & Francis CRC Press, 472p.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

- Remote

oral exam


Additional information:

The oral exam consists of a short 'professional' ppt presentation of the main results from the practical work, then questions by the professors acting as 'stakeholders' of the geothermal operation ...
The ppt presentation is about the results of the group's practical work. Individual questions will be asked by the professors.
Good knowledge and a perfect command of the fundamentals from all the concerned topics of this geothermy course are indeed needed for being able to provide adequate answers.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The course will be given during the 2nd semester. The schedule and the room should be checked on CELCAT. 

Contacts

Professor: Alain Dassargues 04/3662376 Alain.Dassargues@uliege.be
Professor: Bertrand François
 
 
 

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