• Energy Research

Determining the suitability of a local area at a regional or local scale for the geothermal application of low enthalpy systems requires the knowledge of rock thermal conductivity values to evaluate the possibility of low-enthalpy heat exchange. A digital cartographic tool is also needed to synthesize the thermal properties of the underground. This tool should be easily accessible and upgradeable and thus suitable for territorial planning and environmental control. In order to address these key issues, a methodological approach was developed within the framework of the national VIGOR Project, dedicated to evaluating the geothermal potential in southern Italy. In this paper the region of Calabria was selected as a case study. Around 70 samples that were representative of the main geological formations were collected from all over the area. Thermal property tests were carried out both in dry and wet conditions, using a thermal device in accordance with the modified transient plane source method. The thermal conductivity values were then compared with data from the international literature. In order to consider the influence of the entire stratigraphic sequence on the thermal conductivity parameters, a geostatistical analysis of the available lithostratigraphic data was performed using the MATLAB toolbox Modalstrata, specially developed for this purpose. A comprehensive geothermal subsurface characterization of Calabria was thus obtained. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Determining the suitability of a local area at a regional or local scale for the geothermal application of low enthalpy systems requires the knowledge of rock thermal conductivity values to evaluate the possibility of low-enthalpy heat exchange. A digital cartographic tool is also needed to synthesize the thermal properties of the underground. This tool should be easily accessible and upgradeable and thus suitable for territorial planning and environmental control. In order to address these key issues, a methodological approach was developed within the framework of the national VIGOR Project, dedicated to evaluating the geothermal potential in southern Italy. In this paper the region of Calabria was selected as a case study. Around 70 samples that were representative of the main geological formations were collected from all over the area. Thermal property tests were carried out both in dry and wet conditions, using a thermal device in accordance with the modified transient plane source method. The thermal conductivity values were then compared with data from the international literature. In order to consider the influence of the entire stratigraphic sequence on the thermal conductivity parameters, a geostatistical analysis of the available lithostratigraphic data was performed using the MATLAB toolbox Modalstrata, specially developed for this purpose. A comprehensive geothermal subsurface characterization of Calabria was thus obtained. © 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

An empirical method aimed at generating maps of potential of geothermal energy exchange for shallow vertical closed-loop systems is proposed here. The method uses both geological and technological information. In particular, the ground parameters that mainly influence the heat transfer in borehole heat exchangers, the energetic parameters driving efficient operations of geothermal systems and heating and cooling requirements of a typical residential building are taken into account. Spatial modeling is carried out in a Geographic Information System leading to an effective and easy-to-use digital cartographic tool. An application of the method to four regions of southern Italy is also shown. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An empirical method aimed at generating maps of potential of geothermal energy exchange for shallow vertical closed-loop systems is proposed here. The method uses both geological and technological information. In particular, the ground parameters that mainly influence the heat transfer in borehole heat exchangers, the energetic parameters driving efficient operations of geothermal systems and heating and cooling requirements of a typical residential building are taken into account. Spatial modeling is carried out in a Geographic Information System leading to an effective and easy-to-use digital cartographic tool. An application of the method to four regions of southern Italy is also shown. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.