Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Mapping the low-enthalpy geothermal potential of Quaternary alluvial aquifers in Slovakia

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The study proposes a methodology for the construction of a thematic map of the suitability of the Quaternary shallow alluvial sediments for heat pumps. This map was compiled on the basis of the minimum groundwater temperature, specific capacity of a well, the aquifer thickness, the groundwater temperature range (amplitude), and ranking of the months according to the lowest groundwater temperature. A second methodology allows the creation of a thematic map of the groundwater energy potential. This map is based on two criteria: 1. the specific capacity (l s−1 m−1) of the borehole and 2. the temperature change due to the consumption of heat energy. The calculated energy in kW was classified into one of seven usability categories. The highest rated categories in both maps coincided with areas with the largest sediment volumes (the widest alluvia and the highest sediment thickness) coinciding with the highest river flows. Suitability decreases considerably at higher elevations (mountainous) river catchments with a small volume of sediment as characterized by narrow valleys and low sediment thicknesses. There is a logical link between these factors in relation to the potential for heat pumps exploitation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abesser C (2010) Open-loop ground source heat pumps and the groundwater systems: a literature review of current applications, regulations and problems. British Geological Survey. Open report OR/10/045

  • Abesser C, Lewis MA, Marchant AP, Hulbert AG (2014) Mapping suitability for open-loop ground source heat pump systems: a screening tool for England and Wales, UK. Q J Eng Geol Hydrogeol 47:373–380. https://doi.org/10.1144/qjegh2014-050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akbari H, Kolokotsa D (2016) Three decades of urban heat islands and mitigation technologies research. Energy Build 133:834–842. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.09.067

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arola T, Eskola L, Hellen J, Korkka-Niemi K (2014) Mapping the low enthalpy geothermal potential of Quaternary shallow aquifers in Finland. Geothermal. Energy 2:9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40517-014-0009-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banks D (2012) An introduction to thermogeology: ground source heating and cooling, 2nd edn. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Hoboken ISBN 978-0-470-67034-7, 526p

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bezelgues S, Martin JC, Schomburgk S, Monnot P, Nguyen-The D, et al (2010) Geothermal potential of shallow aquifers: decision-aid tool for heat-pump installation. International Geothermal Association. World Geothermal Congress 2010, Apr 2010, Bali, Indonesia. 9 p., hal-00495043

  • Boian I, Moldovan M (2009) Energy efficient operation of the open loop heat pump systems. Bull Transilvania Univ Brasov 2(51) Series I

  • Bowler DE, Buyung-Ali L, Knight TM, Pullin AS (2010) Urban greening to cool towns and cities: a systematic review of the empirical evidence. Landsc Urban Plan 97:147–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.05.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casasso A, Sethi R (2017) Assessment and mapping of the shallow geothermal potential in the province of Cuneo (Piedmont, NW Italy). Renew Energy 102(2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.10.045

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gago EJ, Roldan J, Pacheco-Torres R, Ordóñez J (2013) The city and urban heat islands: a review of strategies to mitigate adverse effects. Renew Sust Energ Rev 25:749–758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.05.057

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoehn E, Cirpka OA (2006) Assessing residence times of hyporheic groundwater in two alluvial flood plains of the Southern Alps using water temperature and tracers. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci Discuss, European Geosciences Union, 2006 10(4):553–563

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krčmář D, Fľaková R, Ženišová Z, Brestenský J (2016) Determination of basic thermal parameters of rock environment with help of the harmonic boundary condition transformation parameters. Podzemna VodaODZEMNÁ VODA, 22(1), 63–72

  • Luo J, Luo Z, Xie J, Xia D, Huang W, Shao H, Xiang W, Rohn J (2018) Investigation of shallow geothermal potentials for different types of ground source heat pump systems (GSHP) of Wuhan city in China. Renew Energy 118:230–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.11.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Memon RA, Leung DYC, Chunho L (2007) A review on the generation, determination and mitigation of urban heat island. J Environ Sci 20(2008):120–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivera JA, Blum P, Bayer P (2015) Analytical simulation of groundwater flow and land surface effects on thermal plumes of borehole heat exchangers. Appl Energy 146:421–433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.02.035

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stauffer F, Bayer P, Blum P, Molina-Giraldo N, Kinzelbach W (2014) Thermal use of shallow groundwater. Taylor & Francis Group. CRC Press, Didcot ISBN-13: 978-1-4665-6019-2, 290p

    Google Scholar 

  • Taniguchi M, Uemura T, Jago-on K (2007) Combined effects of urbanization and global warming on subsurface temperature in four Asian cities. Vadose Zone J 6:591–596. https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2006.0094

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie Y, Batlle-Aguilar J (2017) Limits of heat as a tracer to quantify transient lateral river-aquifer exchanges. Water Resour Res 53:7740–7755. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017WR021120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie Y, Cook PG, Simmons CT, Zheng C (2015) On the limits of heat as a tracer to estimate reach-scale river-aquifer exchange flux. Water Resour Res 51:7401–7416. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014WR016741

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao TF, Fong KF (2017) Characterization of different heat mitigation strategies in landscape to fight against heat island and improve thermal comfort in hot–humid climate (part I): measurement and modelling. Sustain Cities Soc 32(2017):523–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2017.03.025

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported financially by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract No. APVV-14-0174 and Faculty of Mining and Geology, VŠB–Technical University of Ostrava, Czech Republic (No. SP2018/33). We thank the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute and the State Geological Institute of Dionýz Štúr for their cooperation in this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Comenius University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Iľkovičova 6, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

    David Krčmář & Daniela Rusnáková

  2. VŠB-Technical University of Ostrava-Faculty of Mining and Geology-Department of Geological Engineering, 17 listopadu 15, 708 33, Ostrava, Czech Republic

    Marian Marschalko & Shuran Yang

  3. Cumhuriyet University-Faculty of Engineering-Department of Geological Engineering, 58140, Sivas, Turkey

    Isik Yilmaz

  4. State Geological Institute of Dionýz Štúr, Mlynská dolina 1, 817 04, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

    Peter Malík, Radovan Černák & Jaromír Švasta

  5. Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute, Jeséniova 17, 833 15, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

    Eugen Kullman

  6. University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn–Faculty of Geodesy, Geospacial and Civil Engineering-Institute of Geodesy, Heweliusza 5, 10-724, Olsztyn, Poland

    Dariusz Popielarczyk

Authors
  1. David Krčmář
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marian Marschalko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Isik Yilmaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Peter Malík
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Radovan Černák
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jaromír Švasta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Eugen Kullman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Daniela Rusnáková
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Dariusz Popielarczyk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Shuran Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Isik Yilmaz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Krčmář, D., Marschalko, M., Yilmaz, I. et al. Mapping the low-enthalpy geothermal potential of Quaternary alluvial aquifers in Slovakia. Bull Eng Geol Environ 79, 1225–1238 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-019-01650-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-019-01650-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation