Geothermal engine

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jbanes
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 12:49 pm
First Name: Jerason
Last Name: Banes

Response to Geothermal engine

Post by jbanes »

> You could however run one in reverse and use
> it as a heater, though I don't think that's
> terribly practical either.

Actually, that should work. I spoke with a contractor at a church
event who does geothermal installations. They basically drill a hole
200 feet down into the ground, throw some piping down there, then
circulate water. The amount of energy spent moving the water is minor
compared to the amount of heat which is extracted from that depth.
(At least during winter months.)

He claimed that due to the fact that temperatures at that depth are
relatively constant, these installations can keep a house at an even
temperature year-round.
ting_says
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2003 4:19 pm
First Name: Jon
Last Name: Ting

Response to Geothermal engine

Post by ting_says »

Huh, I didn't think of that, but that sounds pretty sweet. It makes a lot of sense, all the constancy of a cave and it's massive volume without the cave bit. The earth as a cold sink, as in the reverse of a heat sink.

Well that's good to know, but you probably don't want to embark on that project without professional help.
kennyja
Posts: 0
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:08 pm
First Name: Tony
Last Name: Kenny

Re: Geothermal engine

Post by kennyja »

What about using solar as the hot side, and just burry a loop in the ground simular to what they do for a geothermal heat pump system? Assuming the sloar can heat the fluid to 100 deg F the ground loop should always be at or very near 50 deg F. Just a thought
fishychick
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 11:24 am
First Name: Claire
Last Name: Cox

Re: Geothermal engine - help a newbie out?

Post by fishychick »

This is not a theoretical question for me. I have access to 160 degree F water. How do I get electricity out of it? It seems to me a Stirling engine ought to do it, but I am a housewife with only the vaguest clue about Stirling engines. Is there anybody here who knows exactly what they would do with that kind of resource?
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