Fluorescent nanocrystals are promising candidates for a range of applications, ranging from biomedical imaging and sensing to solar energy conversion and lighting. Recently, these nanometer-sized semiconductor crystals (also referred to as “quantum dots”) have shown potential to be used as novel geothermal reservoir tracer particles. Quantum dots have size-dependent, tunable electronic and opti...

Concentrations and loads of total mercury and methylmercury were measured in streams draining abandoned mercury mines and in the proximity of geothermal discharge in the Cache Creek watershed of California during a 17-month period from January 2000 through May 2001. Rainfall and runoff were lower than long-term averages during the study period. The greatest loading of mercury and methylmercury ...

Italy has a strong geothermal potential for power generation, although, at present, the only two geothermal fields being exploited are Larderello-Travale/Radicondoli and Mt. Amiata in the Tyrrhenian pre-Apennine volcanic district of Southern Tuscany. A new target for geothermal exploration and exploitation in Italy is represented by the Southern Tyrrhenian submarine volcanic district, a geologi...

Low temperature geothermal systems are an abundant energy resource in New Zealand with over 260 sites with a resource temperature of 150°C and lower. The Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is the standard process for low temperature energy conversion with commercial ORCs utilizing temperatures as low as 90°C, with one site at Chena, Alaska (discussed below) utilizing temperatures as low as 74°C. The a...

A single-box-model numerical simulator for personal computer analysis was developed in order to estimate macroscopic parameter values for exploited geothermal reservoirs and essential fluids coming from the depth. The simulator was designed to compute history data concerning total production and reinjection fluids at geothermal power plants from the assumed parameter values, based on conservati...

Re-injection of produced geothermal water for pressure support is a common practice in geothermal field management. The location selection of the reinjection well and the rate of injection is a challenging subject for geothermal reservoir engineers. The goal of optimization for this type of problem is usually to find one or more combinations of geothermal re-injection well locations that will m...

Cold groundwater and geothermal effluent in the Lake Mývatn area has been divided into six distinct groups according to origin and geothermal influence. This division is based on stable isotope ratios, chemical composition and geographical positions. The groundwater has apparently two basically separate origins, i.e. the local high ground north of Lake Mývatn and the highlands far to the south,...

It is well corroborated that the earth is relentlessly bubbling inside since its birth and traversing continuously through a geological change. The source of this dynamism is the heat stored inside i.e. the geothermal energy, which is believed to be the product of mainly the decay of natural radio-isotopes in the crust and mantle, and in the core of earth. This heat exerts pressure towards the ...

A geothermal power plant multiple simulator for operators training is presented. The simulator is designed to be installed in a wireless local area network and has a capacity to train one to six operators simultaneously, each one with an independent simulation session. The sessions must be supervised only by one instructor. The main parts of this multiple simulator are: instructor and operator’...

Research into the sustainability of geothermal energy previously focused on the management and use of the resource (Rybach and Mongillo, 2006) and the environmental impacts during geothermal energy production (Bloomfield et al., 2003; Reed and Renner, 1995). Within these constraints, studies have shown that there will be less impact on air emissions (including greenhouse gases), water consumpti...