Loredo, C., Ordóñez, A., Garcia-Ordiales, E., Álvarez, R., Roqueñi, N., Cienfuegos, P., Peña, A. and Burnside, N.M. (2017) Hydrochemical characterization of a mine water geothermal energy resource in NW Spain. Science of the Total Environment, 576, pp. 59-69. (doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.084) (PMID:27780100)
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Abstract
Abandoned and flooded mine networks provide underground reservoirs of mine water that can be used as a renewable geothermal energy source. A complete hydrochemical characterization of mine water is required to optimally design the geothermal installation, understand the hydraulic behavior of the water in the reservoir and prevent undesired effects such as pipe clogging via mineral precipitation. Water pumped from the Barredo-Figaredo mining reservoir (Asturias, NW Spain), which is currently exploited for geothermal use, has been studied and compared to water from a separate, nearby mountain mine and a river that receives mine water discharge and partially infiltrates into the mine workings. Although the hydrochemistry was altered during the flooding process, the deep mine waters are currently near neutral, net alkaline, high metal waters of Na-HCO3 type. Isotopic values suggest that mine waters are closely related to modern meteoric water, and likely correspond to rapid infiltration. Suspended and dissolved solids, and particularly iron content, of mine water results in some scaling and partial clogging of heat exchangers, but water temperature is stable (22 °C) and increases with depth, so, considering the available flow (> 100 L s− 1), the Barredo-Figaredo mining reservoir represents a sustainable, long-term resource for geothermal use.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Additional Information: | his work was funded as part of the Low-Carbon After-Life (LoCAL) project under the European Commission Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCR-CT-2014-00001). Isotopic analysis was carried out by Adrian Boyce and Alison McDonald at the NERC supported ICSF within the SUERC (NERC Facility contract F14/G6/11/01). |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Burnside, Dr Neil |
Authors: | Loredo, C., Ordóñez, A., Garcia-Ordiales, E., Álvarez, R., Roqueñi, N., Cienfuegos, P., Peña, A., and Burnside, N.M. |
College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy |
Journal Name: | Science of the Total Environment |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
ISSN: | 0048-9697 |
ISSN (Online): | 1879-1026 |
Published Online: | 22 October 2016 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2016 Elsevier |
First Published: | First published in Science of the Total Environment 576:56-69 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher |
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