| Title | Aspects of Natural Heat Transfer of a Geothermal System in Moderate Terrain: the Greater Waiotapu Geothermal System, New Zealand |
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| Authors | Eylem KAYA, Manfred P. HOCHSTEIN, Angus YEH, Michael J. O'SULLIVAN |
| Year | 2015 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | Waiotapu geothermal systems, natural heat and mass transfer, heat pipe transfer, geothermal reservoir modelling, advective fluid flow. |
| Abstract | A numerical model of the Waiotapu, Waikite and Reporoa geothermal systems, New Zealand was previously presented by Kaya et al. (2014). In the present study, the same model is used to further investigate the natural state fluid and heat flow within these fields and their interconnectivity. In particular a more detailed investigation of heat flows from drainage areas is made in order to compare estimates of the heat outputs using two independent methods: direct heat loss surveys and the chloride flux method. The investigation allows evaluation of the effect of heat pipe mechanism within the great Waiotapu system. The model reproduces lateral thermal fluid flow beneath two dacite domes and the resultant demagnetization of these domes by ascending vapour produced, in turn, by shallow boiling. The cooling effect of advective, terrain-induced colder inflows on the temperature distribution in exploration wells was also studied thus developing an understanding of interaction of advective groundwater and convective thermal flows in mountainous terrain systems. |