Pore structure alteration in heated granite after LN2 treatment: An experimental study for the enhanced geothermal energy extraction

IF 3.5 2区工程技术 Q3 ENERGY & FUELS

Geothermics Pub Date : 2025-03-20 DOI:10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103326

Sotirios Nik. Longinos , Mohammad Asif , George Mathews

{"title":"Pore structure alteration in heated granite after LN2 treatment: An experimental study for the enhanced geothermal energy extraction","authors":"Sotirios Nik. Longinos , Mohammad Asif , George Mathews","doi":"10.1016/j.geothermics.2025.103326","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cryogenic fracturing of two granite samples was performed in this paper for the pore characterization to enhance geothermal energy extraction. The samples were heated initially to 600 °C and subsequently analyzed for liquid nitrogen (LN<sub>2</sub>) treatment for multiple freezing and freezing-thawing cycles. The mercury intrusion and low-pressure nitrogen adsorption reveal a significant alternation in the pore characteristics of granite samples. The nitrogen adsorption capacity increases from 1.08 cc/g to 1.52 cc/g after LN<sub>2</sub> treatment. This study also examines a significant increase in pore volume as pore volume increases by 135–152 %. Furthermore, the XRD analysis of the samples was executed to study the microscopic effect of the minerals in the granite samples. The LN₂ treatment of the sample enhances pore connectivity, as evidenced by the XRD analysis of sample 1, which reveals a high feldspar and biotite content. In contrast, sample 2 experiences limited fracturing effects due to its high quartz content. Therefore, the cryogenic fracturing of heated granite samples demonstrates significant potential for investigating pore structure modifications to improve geothermal energy recovery. This study establishes a fundamental framework for advancing geothermal energy extraction and contributes to the development of renewable energy in Kazakhstan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55095,"journal":{"name":"Geothermics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 103326"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Geothermics","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0375650525000781","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENERGY & FUELS","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

The cryogenic fracturing of two granite samples was performed in this paper for the pore characterization to enhance geothermal energy extraction. The samples were heated initially to 600 °C and subsequently analyzed for liquid nitrogen (LN₂) treatment for multiple freezing and freezing-thawing cycles. The mercury intrusion and low-pressure nitrogen adsorption reveal a significant alternation in the pore characteristics of granite samples. The nitrogen adsorption capacity increases from 1.08 cc/g to 1.52 cc/g after LN₂ treatment. This study also examines a significant increase in pore volume as pore volume increases by 135–152 %. Furthermore, the XRD analysis of the samples was executed to study the microscopic effect of the minerals in the granite samples. The LN₂ treatment of the sample enhances pore connectivity, as evidenced by the XRD analysis of sample 1, which reveals a high feldspar and biotite content. In contrast, sample 2 experiences limited fracturing effects due to its high quartz content. Therefore, the cryogenic fracturing of heated granite samples demonstrates significant potential for investigating pore structure modifications to improve geothermal energy recovery. This study establishes a fundamental framework for advancing geothermal energy extraction and contributes to the development of renewable energy in Kazakhstan.

查看原文本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Geothermics 工程技术-地球科学综合

CiteScore

7.70

自引率

15.40%

发文量

237

审稿时长

4.5 months

期刊介绍： Geothermics is an international journal devoted to the research and development of geothermal energy. The International Board of Editors of Geothermics, which comprises specialists in the various aspects of geothermal resources, exploration and development, guarantees the balanced, comprehensive view of scientific and technological developments in this promising energy field. It promulgates the state of the art and science of geothermal energy, its exploration and exploitation through a regular exchange of information from all parts of the world. The journal publishes articles dealing with the theory, exploration techniques and all aspects of the utilization of geothermal resources. Geothermics serves as the scientific house, or exchange medium, through which the growing community of geothermal specialists can provide and receive information.