Aquifer thermal energy storage: A numerical simulation of field experiments in China

Abstract

This paper describes the results of computer simulations for three seasonal aquifer thermal energy storage experiments which have been carried out recently in China. The governing equation of the mathematical model used to simulate the experiments contains convection, conduction and heat dispersion terms. A general description of the experiments, three‐dimensional mathematical model and numerical method used is presented. The simulated temperatures agree very well with the observed field data. Total mean values of the absolute errors are 0.5°C for the single‐well experiment, 0.7°C for the double‐well experiment and 0.4°C for the multiwell experiment; relative error ranges from 2.8% to 4.5%. The simulated production temperatures and energy recovery ratios, ϵ, (ϵsimu = 0.638 versus ϵobs = 0.640 and ϵsimu = 0.729 versus ϵobs = 0.753 for different experiments) also agree very well with the field data. Discussions are also given on the determination and choice of various parameters used in the simulations. The results strongly indicate the validity of the model and simulation procedures used. It is necessary to consider the heat transfer through the fluid phase by heat dispersion in the governing equation.