A Novel Approach for Downhole Power Generation in Geothermal Wells Using Thermoelectric Generator (TEG)

Abstract

An account of animated recent technological upgrades, rising demand over the sustainability and the prospect of environment-friendly, sustainable power with adequate proportion; geothermal energy sources have drawn the attention around the globe. In traditional geothermal field, the hot water produced from geothermal wells are utilized for electricity generation by binary power plant system. To enhance the thermal recovery, we proposed an innovative down-hole power generation method and demonstrate the promising method in terms of operation expenditure, extending the economy of well and influence on the environment. The present method incorporates the integration of well completion, production tube, and thermoelectric generation technology. In this method, the thermal energy is converted to electrical energy in down-hole by thermoelectric generator (TEG) installed on the outer side of the production tube. Additionally, the mathematical solution of heat transfer is demonstrated which gives the temperature distribution profile of well to evaluate the efficiency of TEG. This proposed method capitalizes and implements existing geothermal productions well and retrofit them for electricity generation. This method can be good complementary for a geothermal power plant and extend the economy of wells.