UDC 532.546

W. Nowak and A. A. Stachel

ASSESSMENT OF OPERATION OF AN UNDERGROUND CLOSED-LOOP GEOTHERMAL HEAT EXCHANGER
The results of the calculations which allow one to obtain the characteristics of a closed-loop geothermal heat exchanger (C-LGHE) on the basis of our own approximate mathematical model are presented. These results are given in the form of appropriate tables containing the reduced quantities characterizing operation of such a geothermal heat exchanger. On this basis, C-LGHE operation is analyzed and the conclusions on the possibilities of utilization of geothermal energy in binary power stations are drawn. Technical University of Szczecin, Department of Heat Engineering, Al. Piastow 17, 70-310 Szczecin, Poland; e-mail: andrzej.stachel@ps.pl. Original article submitted September 24, 2004.