The course is focused on the various types of exploitation of the geothermal resource as renewable: electricity production, direct use and ground heat exchange for heating and cooling (gothermal heat pumps).

Heat flow and transmission in the earth’s crust: conduction, convection and advection. Exploitation of the earth’s heat for geothermal purposes (electric and direct). Geothermal anomalies. Low-medium-high temperature geothermal energy as a renewable energy source and its role in ecological transition and climate change mitigation. Main characteristics of low, medium and high enthalpy geothermal systems in different tectonic and geodynamic environments. The conditions for exploitation of the geothermal resource for electricity production: 1) heat source, 2) reservoir for geothermal fluids, 3) recharge of fluids, 4) presence of impermeable cap-rocks. Types, characteristics and classification of geothermal systems. Geothermal fields in volcanic areas, systems related to magma intrusions and other geothermal systems. Calderas as potential indicator for the recognition, characterization and exploitation of the geothermal systems for the production of electricity. Examples of Italian and South American geothermal fields and their development prospects. Water-dominant and steam-dominant geothermal systems. Geothermal and water state diagram. Characterization of hydrothermal fluids (waters and gases): composition, classification and stable isotopes. The minerals of hydrothermal alteration. Multidisciplinary geothermal exploration techniques: surface geology, volcanology, geochemistry (and geothermometries), geophysics, exploratory wells and integration of all exploration data. The conceptual model of geothermal systems. Types and operation of geothermal power plants for electricity production. Direct steam (dry) plants, single/double and multiple flash plants. Binary cycle plants (ORC). The cost of electricity produced by geothermal power plants.  Efficiency of production plants and problems related to corrosion and scaling (self sealing) generated by geothermal fluids. Mitigation of the environmental impact of geothermal power plants. Reinjection of geothermal fluids. Low and very low temperature geothermal energy (geo-exchange of heat with the ground). Direct use of heat (District Heating). The examples of Ferrara and Bagno di Romagna of direct use of hot water for district heating and geological-structural significance of surface thermal anomalies in northern Emilia Romagnaeastern and southern. Other examples of district heating. Geothermal (water to water) heat pump plants with closed circuit connected to ground heat exchanger probes and open circuit with heat exchange in the aquifer. Coefficient of performance (COP) of geothermal heat pumps. The site for the installation of heat exchanger probes and preliminary geological, geotechnical, hydrogeological and thermal conductivity surveys of the ground. Standard thermal response test (GRT) and advanced geothermal response test (EGRT), field and laboratory geothermal system investigations (software). Costs: initial investment, operation and maintenance of ground-coupled geothermal heat pump plants. Comparison with the costs of traditional heating-cooling systems. Regulation for the installation in the underground of heat exchanger probes (Decree 30-09-2022). Use of geothermal energy for the air conditioning of swimming pools and health centres, for greenhouses and agricultural production, fish farming, snow melting, and various industrial processes. Excursion to geothermal fields of Tuscany and study visit to the Larderello geothermal power plant.

No bridging courses.

The student has to demonstrate:

Knowledge and understanding. At the end of the course, the student must have assimilated the fundamental knowledge for the understanding of the potential of high enthalpy geothermal fields and thermal energy production plants with ground heat exchanger probes combined with heat pumps geothermal (closed- and open-loop systems).

Apply knowledge and understanding. The student will demonstrate mastery of basic concepts for recognizing, classifying and describing high temperature geothermal fields and for designing air conditioning plants through borehole heat exchangers coupled with geothermal heat pumps.

Making judgment. The student will have to demonstrate mastery of basic concepts for independently and critically assessing the properties of the subsoil and thermal gradients in order to distinguish the various forms of exploitation of the geothermal resource, from electricity production to direct uses (thermal energy).

Communication skills. The student should be able to describe correctly the various forms of use of the geothermal resource as a renewable, using a specific technical language.

Learning ability. The student will be able to build his scientific growth path for knowledge of geothermal processes in a critical and autonomous way, using the acquired knowledge. These skills, as far as possible, will be stimulated by the teacher proposing insights.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Seminar activities and insights given by researchers of the University of Urbino or other universities or research centers will be provided.

Teaching

Lectures, practical activities on specific software, geological fieldtrip in selected italian geothermal areas and visit to plants for air conditioning through closed-loop borehole heat exchangers coupled with geothermal heat pumps.

Innovative teaching methods

Experience activities and visits at geothermal plants both for (i) electricity production and (ii) air conditioning with closed-loop borehole heat exchangers coupled with heat pumps.

Attendance

Attendance is suggested. The practical activities are also comprised for the final knowledge.

Course books

Files of the lessons given to the students and available at Moodle › blended.uniurb.it

Suggested textbooks:

Adele Manzella, Carlo Ungarelli (2011) La Geotermia – L’energia sotto i nostri piedi. Società editrice il Mulino.

Kenneth Wohletz, Grant Heiken (1992) Volcanology and Geothermal Energy, University of California Press, 432 pp. 

Beniamino Toro, Tania Ruspandini (2009) Geotermia, Aspetti geologici – Ricerca – Utilizzazione. Collana SIGEA di geologia ambientale, Dario Flaccovio Editore, 119 pp. 

Francesco Tinti (2008) Geotermia per la climatizzazione. Dario Flaccovio Editore, 209 pp.

Assessment

Oral examination is structured to improve the knowledge of the students concerning fundamental concepts, technical procedures, command of the specific language, appropriate claim on the issues and challenges. The oral examination is evaluated in thirtieths.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

To give the opportunity to the non attending-students to compensate for the independent study of what is done during classes, the following materials are provided with reference to the same content of the programme in order to promote its full understanding.

Files of the lessons given to the students and available at Moodle › blended.uniurb.it

Suggested textbooks:

Adele Manzella, Carlo Ungarelli (2011) La Geotermia – L’energia sotto i nostri piedi. Società editrice il Mulino.

Kenneth Wohletz, Grant Heiken (1992) Volcanology and Geothermal Energy, University of California Press, 432 pp. 

Beniamino Toro, Tania Ruspandini (2009) Geotermia, Aspetti geologici – Ricerca – Utilizzazione. Collana SIGEA di geologia ambientale, Dario Flaccovio Editore, 119 pp. 

Francesco Tinti (2008) Geotermia per la climatizzazione. Dario Flaccovio Editore, 209 pp.

Assessment

Oral examination is structured to improve the knowledge of the students concerning fundamental concepts, technical procedures, command of the specific language, appropriate claim on the issues and challenges. The oral examination is evaluated in thirtieths.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.