DEVELOPMENT OF REACTIVE HEAT EXCHANGERS FOR ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL ENERGY RECOVERY (JUNE2024)

Abstract

Increased interest in geothermal systems due to the rising demand of reliable cleaner energy and low carbon energy has revived focus on conventional heat exchangers where thermal efficiency and energy recovery is restrained. The paper looks at reactive heat exchangers development as a new process of improving geothermal energy production through heat transfer in union with thermochemical and reactive processes. These systems can be used to achieve greater values of effective heat capacities, higher heat transfer rates, and less exergy losses, especially with low-enthalpy geothermal resources, through the integration of reactive media, adsorption processes, or redox reactions within the structure of the heat exchanger. The article is the synthesis of the latest developments in materials, the integration plans of the system, and optimizing their performance of the reactive heat exchanger used in geothermal applications. The important technical issues such as the material durability, reaction control and reservoir- wellbore interactions are also addressed. The results demonstrate that reactive heat exchangers have a high capacity to enhance the performance, sustainability, and scalability of the upcoming geothermal energy systems.