Objective
To exploite a new geothermal resource in Samalus (north of Barcelona) pumping 200 m3/h at 85 deg. C of non saline xater.
The production well drilled in 1988 with Commission support (see GE /523/86/ES) is now on long term test. Full use of geothermal heat will be ensured by a radial network fully automatised made of preinsulated epoxy/fibre glass pipes. Hot water distributed by gravity will be sold to each consumers : 1 Ha of greenhouses - industrial users in La Garriga and district heating + sanitary hot water production in Samalus city. Due to low salinity 80 % of the users will incorporate the water after thermal use in their process or for irrigation purposes.
The well is not exploited since 1989. The contractor has encountered several obstacles to achieve the project completion :
- 59 private wells are existing in the nearby village (4 km) and people are afraid by geothermal exploitation.
- mathematical models have proved that at full scale exploitation, the geothermal well would reduce by 5 to 6 m the static level of the aquifer after 3,5 years of pumping.
- geothermal energy use is in competition with balneological use of the water, in the city the use of hot water is historical and a new deep well has been drilled in 1990 : (Blancafort) for medicinal purposes.
The production well will be equipped with a submersible pump 8" diameter. A tank of 1500 m3 made of concrete will ensure the pressure regulation in the glass fibre epoxy resine network of 3500 m. The gravity distribution is possible because of 140 m level variation between the well head and the main consumers. The water produced at 85 deg. C should be delivered to consumers not below 75 deg. C. Utilization factor will be 50% in summer and 75% in winter. More than 1 Millions of m3 of hot water are planned to be sold yearly.
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
08036 Barcelona
Spain