A Step Towards A Lower Carbon Future: Integrating Closed Loop Geothermal Technology in District Cooling Applications
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2020-08
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Abstract
This research will assess the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of low-grade, closed loop geothermal heat extraction used for district cooling applications, specifically with the use of an Eavor-Loop™. This will be completed through literature review, interviews with subject matter experts, thermodynamic process simulations and optimization, and an economic analysis. As global warming, urbanization, and our dependency on digital storage increases, the world’s cooling demands continue to rapidly grow with predictions showing that cooling demands will outweigh heating demands by 2060. Majority of current cooling systems utilize fossil fuels, emitting a great deal of greenhouse gases that have gone unchecked for decades. With the utilization of Eavor-Loop™ and absorption chiller technology, a 6,600 RT facility was designed for data center operations in California, USA with both environmental and economic benefits. This design aims to open up new, affordable possibilities with low-grade geothermal resources to meet the world’s cooling demands.
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Lea, E. (2020). A Step Towards A Lower Carbon Future: Integrating Closed Loop Geothermal Technology in District Cooling Applications (Unpublished master's project). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.