| Abstract |
Galantaterm was one of the first geothermal companies in Slovakia to utilize geothermal water for district heating and production of sanitary hot water. The company is based in the town of Galanta, in the southern part of Slovakia, in the central sedimentary depression of the Danube basin. The company operates two geothermal drillholes (FGG-2 and FGG-3), which are sited within 2 km of the central distribution station. The wells were drilled in 1983 and 1984 to depths of 2100 and 2102 m, respectively. The average wellhead temperature in FGG-2 is 78.7?C and 77.8?C in FGG-3. The geothermal water is used as base load but other energy sources, such as gas, are used in peak periods when the outside temperature goes below 0?C. Due to its high mineralization the water cannot be used directly for space heating. The geothermal water is pumped from the wells to the Energy Centre where it heats the fresh cold water in a series of heat exchangers. The geothermal water is then cooled before it is discharged into the river V·h. The geothermal water is treated to avoid corrosion and scaling. The inhibitors used are classified as non-toxic and are added in small, environmentally harmless amounts. Galantaterm distributes hot sanitary water and hot water for heating to 1243 flats, but the main consumer is the regional hospital, which has been using about 51% of the energy supplied by the company. The company also operates a separate gas-boiler station to provide steam to the hospital, which is used for sterilization and washing. The main benefits of geothermal utilization in Galanta are of an economical and environmental nature. Thanks to geothermal energy, the brown coal-fired conventional boiler station in the hospital was closed. The pollution (SO2, NOx, CO2) generated by the conventional boiler station has been reduced significantly. |