Geothermal Heating

Let's talk about Geothermal Gradient. When people began to have the capacity to dig very deep holes, they noticed that it got hotter as they went down. This is largely due to the geothermal gradient produced by radioactive materials and underground sources of molten rock. As a drill goes down the borehole, it often needs to be cooled, not only because of it's own spiral motion, but also, the surrounding rock is getting hotter.

The effect is less pronounced once the drill penetrates beyond the upper mantle, indicating that radioactive heat is common at such depths. However, in the upper crust that we are most familiar with, the temperature increases at a steady rate no matter where you are, with the exception of permafrost deposits in northerly areas.

Any time there's a gradient, there's potential for energy to be created. The pervasive nature of the geothermic gradient makes it especially attractive as a developing technology. It exists just about everywhere and represents a massive potential as long as the depths drilled are deep enough to be commercially viable.

The idea of using geothermal power for generation of electricity is not new, but is new in application, partly because the drills to take advantage of such depths have only somewhat recently become long enough to make an economically viable shaft that can be used.

The theory, once again, uses the same principles as any potential, electric or not.

The idea is to generate the current based upon the difference between the conditions down there and at the top. There are not currently any power plants taking advantage of this energy source, but there are plenty of reasons to concern those interested in the geothermal gradient.

For starter, those who have access to long bore tunnels will find that the liquid coming out of pipes that go deeper gets warmer, making home heating with geothermal only is tantalizingly close to realization. It also means that extra care must be taken when drilling deep to hit an existing pocket or drilling down into a steam chamber, whether natural or created with Enhanced Geothermal Systems.

While the geothermal gradient is not terribly important to those installing a few pipes in their backyard, though as soon as one begins drilling to meet the objectives of a commercial geothermal application, the Earth becomes appreciably hotter as one drills downwards. The effect is most pronounced in areas where there is a high level of radio active rocks in the region, but is apparent everywhere on Earth if you dig down far enough.

Geothermal Heating |