Model for Heat Extraction from Salt Structures by a Closed-Loop Geothermal System

The occurrence of hydrothermal reservoirs is limited, and closed-loop heat exchangers represent an alternative to conventional systems. The HOCLOOP project aims to develop and test a novel CBHE technology. The project deals, among others, with the possibility of using deep salt structures as a geothermal system’s heat source. GTW software was used for calculations of system performance, and CBHE was assumed with a horizontal well using DualPipe technology. The area of the Goleniów was chosen for the analysis because both salt domes and pillows occur there. In addition, the city has a District Heating System based on a coal-fired boiler. Using the HOCLOOP solution would help reduce emissions and transform the fossil-fuel-based system to renewable energy. The results suggest that the system performance is more dependent on the operating parameters than on the geological conditions. The potential for integration into a DHS is a more critical factor in determining the location of a CBHE. The unique feature is that the heat supply from the wells after the initial higher value is flattening out and is estimated to be nearly constant and cover dynamic demands for the future with little maintenance and no need for an external power supply.