Airflow Sciences Awarded $200k to Develop Geothermal Flow Measurement System
Livonia, MI, February 6, 2024 – Airflow Sciences Corporation is tapping beneath the surface to uncover the energy solutions of the future. The Michigan-based company has been awarded $200,000 by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a cutting-edge monitoring system for geothermal energy sites. The proposed monitoring system contains technology never-before used in geothermal well management and promises to improve production efficiency, a boost that could dramatically improve geothermal feasibility on the grid.
A geothermal well or reservoir contains water that heats up naturally underground. A two-phase mixture of steam and water is drawn up to the surface to rotate a steam-powered turbine that generates electricity. After this, water returns back into the reservoir to be reheated. Geothermal sites can have multiple reservoirs, all feeding the same turbine.
Real-time monitoring of each individual reservoir is something that the industry has been struggling to achieve for decades. As more and more geothermal sites have broken ground in the U.S., it is clear that more complete flow data could significantly reduce the cost of the geothermal megawatt-hour. Such data will help sites operate their turbines with greater efficiency, adjusting reservoir flows in real time based on which ones can deliver the highest thermodynamic potential.
Airflow’s proposed system will give site managers the ability to know not only the flow rates supplied from each well, but more importantly, the vapor-to-liquid ratio in the supply lines. The result will be a cost-effective, two-phase flow meter with a complete temperature characterization for both the vapor and liquid phase of the fluid. The project also includes the development of a data acquisition protocol, which will automate data collection, furnishing a complete turn-key solution to geothermal providers.
At a time when the U.S. power industry is racing toward carbon-neutrality, Airflow Sciences is well-poised to take on the technological challenges of the renewable sector. This effort is just one of many sustainable energy projects lining the company’s portfolio, some funded by DOE and others funded by industry customers.
“Airflow Sciences is proud to be part of this DOE research focused on expanding geothermal energy utilization,” notes Robert Mudry, Airflow’s President. “The measurement system proposed by our team represents a complete, economical solution for the management of the most crucial asset of the geothermal site – the reservoir.”
About Airflow Sciences Corporation
Airflow Sciences Corporation is a fluid dynamics solutions company. They specialize in the design and optimization of equipment and processes involving flow, heat transfer, combustion, and mass transfer. Since 1975, the company has focused on testing and simulation of air, gas, liquid, or particulate flows. They also manufacture standard and custom test equipment, including probes and wind tunnels, enabling customers to collect data accurately and efficiently. Airflow’s primary CFD software, Azore®, is also available for customers with in-house CFD personnel. ASC offers comprehensive flow solutions and optimization and serves a wide range of industries including HVAC, power, auto, rail, and food processing.
About the U.S. Department of Energy
The mission of the Energy Department is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. Learn more at energy.gov.