Mining the Earth's Heat: Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy describes the work carried out by the Los Alamos National Laboratory to turn an idealistic concept - that of drawing useful amounts of energy from the vast underground store of hot rock at reachable depths - into a practical reality. This book provides comprehensive documentation of the over two decades of experiments carried out at the test site at Fenton Hill, New Mexico, where the feasibility of accessing and extracting this vast natural resource was finally demonstrated. It also discusses the numerous technical, administrative, and financial hurdles that had to be overcome along the way. This publication will no doubt prove invaluable to researchers around the world as they strive to move this now-proven technology toward commercial viability. In addition, it is a valuable source of relevant information for anyone interested in the world energy outlook for the 21st century and beyond.
Imagine living in a world with clean air and very little pollution. Imagine never having to hear your parents complain about paying the electric bill. Does that sound too good to be true? It's all possible with solar energy. Learn how actor Ed Begley Jr. lives in his solar home. Read how solar power works and why scientists think solar energy will be the next great energy resource. You can learn how to save energy in your own home. You can even find out how to make your own solar oven and cook yourself a solar hot dog feast.
Heat provides the energy that drives almost all geological phenomena and sets the temperature at which these phenomena operate. This book explains the key physical principles of heat transport with simple physical arguments and scaling laws that allow quantitative evaluation of heat flux and cooling conditions in a variety of geological settings and systems. The thermal structure and evolution of magma reservoirs, the crust, the lithosphere and the mantle of the Earth are reviewed within the context of plate tectonics and mantle convection - illustrating how theoretical arguments can be combined with field and laboratory data to arrive at accurate interpretations of geological observations. Appendices contain data on the thermal properties of rocks, surface heat flux measurements and rates of radiogenic heat production. This book can be used for advanced courses in geophysics, geodynamics and magmatic processes, and is a reference for researchers in geoscience, environmental science, physics, engineering and fluid dynamics.
Heat Transport and Energetics of the Earth and Rocky Planets provides a better understanding of the interior of the Earth by addressing the processes related to the motion of heat in large bodies. By addressing issues such as the effect of self-gravitation on the thermal state of the Earth, the effect of length-scales on heat transport, important observations of Earth, and a comparison to the behavior of other rocky bodies, readers will find clearly delineated discussions on the thermal state and evolution of the Earth. Using a combination of fundamentals, new developments and scientific and mathematical principles, the book summarizes the state-of-the-art. This timely reference is an important resource for geophysicists, planetary scientists, geologists, geochemists, and seismologists to gain a better understanding of the interior, formation and evolution of planetary bodies. Provides an interdisciplinary approach to the understanding of the thermal evolution of large planetary bodies, including contributed chapters from leading experts Includes relevant observations of Earth and large-scale heat transfer, a critical review of existing paradigms of the current thermal state of the Earth, and a discussion of heat flow on the other rocky planets Covers macroscopic phenomena as they pertain to deciphering the thermal structure of planetary bodies
This book deals with the signatures left by geodynamic proceses in the temperature field of the Earth's crust. First, it introduces briefly the established, indirect methods for interpreting the present termperature field and methods for reconstructing the thermal fields of the geological past. Then the spatial and temporal scales that are relevant for heat transport processes are described. This problem is discussed both theoretically and on the basis of data from the German Continental Deep Drilling Program (KTB). The climate of the last 200 years and the postglacial warming in central Europe are reconstructed on the basis of two sets of temperature data from shallow and deep boreholes. This book is written for an audience at an advanced undergraduate or graduate level with an understanding of basic physical principles. It avoids particular terminology, and special terms are introduced.
Describes the potential for geothermal energy, the naturally occurring heat within the Earth. Summarizes information related to developing geothermal energy while minimizing its environmental impact. Discusses its versatility; it can be used in the generation of electricity, as well as direct use applications, such as space heating and industrial processes. Contains color photos, charts, and diagrams.