Physical model and demonstration of an aquifer thermal energy store

Abstract

An experimental loop has been set up to demonstrate the technical feasibility of a hot water aquifer store and to validate an original physical model and code as well as the engineering based on it. The model applies to a “reference aquifer” and an appropriate exploitation system, as defined in the text. Experiments have been carried out for a period of 37 days, 15 days for injection of hot water at 40°C, 7 days of storage at rest, 15 days for pumping out stored hot water. The system has worked perfectly at the specified performance. Measured temperatures show a very good accordance with temperatures predicted by the numerical model. The rated 52% efficiency has been confirmed. Although more extended experiments shall be performed, one can conclude that the engineering of the system is appropriate and the physical model and numerical code developed by the authors are satisfactory.