Geysers and Geothermal Energy

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1 John S. Rinehart Geysers and Geothermal Energy Springer-Verlag New York Heidelberg Berlin

2 John S. Rinehart P.o. Box 392 Santa Fe, NM USA Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Rinehart, John Sargent, Geysers and geothermal energy. Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Geysers. 2. Geothermal resources. I. Title QE528.R ' With 97 figures. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be translated or reproduced in any form without written permission from Springer-Verlag by Springer-Verlag New York Inc. Softcover reprint of the hardcover lst edition I ISBN-13: e-isbn-13: DOl: /

3 Dedicated to my wife Marion

4 Preface Geysers. What makes them work? Many who have seen a geyser in action know only that it spouts hot water into the air. Many others have never seen one. Chapter 1, Geysers of the World, delineates their distinguishing features, locates the geyser regions of the world, and places investigations by world travelers and scientists in historic perspective. One of the quickest ways to become acquainted with a geyser is to observe it. The descriptions of several well known geysers, some based on past observations by others, but frequently by me, do not necessarily portray current behavior. They do, however, represent general features. Geysers exist as a result of a delicate and unique interplay among the heat, the water, and the rocks of the earth. In essence, heat and water must be available, transported, distributed, stored, and finally released. Chapter 2, The Geologic, Thermal, and Hydrologic State of the Earth, especially that close to its surface, sets the stage for Chapter 3, Fundamentals of Geyser Operation. The geyser is treated here as a simple system consisting of three major interacting elements: a source of water, a source of heat, and a reservoir for storing water. The discussion centers around the actions occurring within idealized columnar and pool geysers, and more complex systems. Some of the more workable geyser theories are evaluated. Gases and minerals carried by thermal waters play very important roles in many geologic processes. In geysers, gases strongly affect the eruption processes. Minerals do not, but the chemical composition of the waters provides a key to understanding where the waters have come from and been. Whereas Chapter 3 ignores the presence of gases as an agent in geyser action, Chapter 4, The Role of Gases in Geysers, discusses their importance in detail. Especially interesting are the cold water geysers whose eruptions are powered mainly by occluded and dissolved gases other than water vapor. Chapter 5, Chemistry of Geothermal Waters, discusses the chemical characteristics of geyser waters, their v

5 vi Preface origins, and their passages through rock masses. Minerals are essential in the formation and maintenance of geyser systems by solution of the subterranean rocks through whose channels the waters can circulate, and by deposition which forms the underground reservoirs, auxiliary tubes, and surface appurtenances essential to the operation of a geyser. Chapter 6 is concerned with Geyser Area Complexes, the differences and interrelationships between mud pots, fumaroles, spouters, nonerupting hot springs, and geysers. Hot spring and geyser activity have strong influences on local environments. The hot waters provide habitats for out-of-the-ordinary plant and animal life. A geyser's steam explosions can shake the ground. Because of their fragile character, unpredictable behavior, and masses of boiling water, hot spring areas are often hazardous to human and animal life. Chapter 7 is concerned with these Environmental Aspects of Geysers. Geyser activity is constantly changing, at times secularly, at times episodically, and often cyclically. Many factors cause these changes: climate, air pressure, earthquakes and their associated earth stresses, and earth tides. An eruption pattern also has vagaries that seem characteristic of a geyser system itself. Chapter 8 details all of these Temporal Changes in Geyser Activity and Their Causes. It is natural for man to meddle with geysers, trying to change or understand their behavior. Indeed he has revived inactive geysers, stimulated sluggish ones, and made new ones. At time he has harnessed them for useful work. Chapter 9 is about Man's Influence on Geyser Activity. Chapter 10 is concerned with Practical Uses of Geothermal Fluids. Geothermal fluids, hot water and steam, contain vast amounts of energy. The fluids are now used in appreciable quantities for electric power generation, space heating, industrial processing, and agriculture. All of these uses and the types of geothermal areas that can be effectively utilized are discussed. This book brings together most aspects of geyser activity. It differs from past discussions, which though extensive and excellent have either been guide books or limited expositions of a single geyser area or phenomenon. Here information from all of the geyser areas of the world is used to establish the causes, nature, and effects of geyser activity. In preparing this book, available geyser literature has been drawn on heavily, often simply paraphrased. Only figures and tables are referenced specifically. All material consulted is listed in the bibliography with each chapter's references identified. All of the major works contain additional and sometimes extensive bibliographies for further study. I have visited most of the areas discussed with the exception of Kamchatka and all of the photographs are my own. During these visits and at other times, I have benefited greatly from discussions and personal help from D. W. White, R. O. Fournier, A. H. Truesdell, George Marler, R. W. Hutchinson, Joe Barth, and E. F. Lloyd. Vincent Schaeffer kindled my scientific interest in geysers. My many students in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Colorado have been invaluable in analysing the data. I am also grateful to the

6 Preface vii naturalist-rangers and officials of Yellowstone National Park who have been so very cooperative during my stays there. My wife has been a continual source of help and inspiration. She has been my companion and technician on many arduous expeditions and has participated in all aspects of my writing including typing and editing of the several drafts of this manuscript. Santa Fe, New Mexico JOHN S. RINEHART

7 Contents List of Symbols xiii Chapter 1 Geysers of the World 1. 1 Introduction 1.2 The Geyser as a Geographic and Geologic Feature 1.3 Geyser Studies 1.4 Behavioral Characteristics of Some Geysers Chapter 2 The Geologic, Thermal, and Hydrologic State of the Earth 2.1 Geologic Features of the Earth 2.2 The Earth as a Source of Heat 2.3 Transport and Distribution of Heat 2.4 Storage of Heat 2.5 Heat Efflux Chapter 3 Fundamentals of Geyser Operation 3.1 Essential Elements of a Geyser 3.2 Properties of Water and Steam 3.3 Geysering from a Pool: Fountain or Pool Geysers 3.4 Geysering from a Pipe: Columnar or Cone Geysers 3.5 Complex Geyser Systems ix

8 x Chapter 4 The Role of Gases in Geysers 4.1 Formation and Evolution of Gases 4.2 Theory of Effects of Gases 4.3 Gassy Geysers Contents Chapter 5 Chemistry of Geothermal Waters 5.1 Water Sources 5.2 Composition of Geothermal Fluids 5.3 Water Movements and Contacts: Geothermometry 5.4 Solubility of Rocks; Rock Alteration by Thermal Waters Chapter 6 Geyser Area Complexes 6.1 Fumaroles, Mud Pots, and Spouters 6.2 Nonerupting Hot Springs; Boiling Springs 6.3 Temperature Regimes within Geysers 6.4 Interactions among Geysers Chapter 7 Environmental Aspects of Geysers 7.1 General 7.2 Mineral Deposition 7.3 Plant and Animal Life 7.4 Ground Noise and Seismicity Chapter 8 Temporal Changes in Geyser Activity and Their Causes 8. 1 General Nature of the Changes 8.2 Bimodal Eruption Patterns 8.3 Climatic, Seasonal, and Barometric Effects 8.4 Earthquake Effects 8.5 Earth Tidal Effects Chapter 9 Man's Influence on Geyser Activity 9.1 Some Man-Made Geysers 9.2 Changing the Activity of Geysers

9 Contents Xl Chapter 10 Practical Uses of Geothermal Fluids Introduction 10.2 Characteristics of Exploited GeoIhermal Areas 10.3 Agricultural and OIher Husbandry Uses loa Space Heating and Cooling 10.5 Industrial Processing 10.6 Electric Power Production 10.7 Economic and Environmental Aspects Appendix Geologic Time (Stratigraphic Column) Chapter References Bibliography Index

10 List of Symbols A Ab c C Ta d ad de d g adg Area Area of bubble Specific heat of water Mineral concentration at temperature in aquifer Depth within geyser tube (top down to point under consideration) Change in distance boiling surface has moved Depth at which boiling reaches equilibrium Depth at which boiling begins (gas-filled water) Distance ebullition of gas works itself do'.'!!", to equilibrium d! Depth at which boiling begins (no superincumbent gas) ad! D E Distance boiling surface has moved downward from initial location to equilibrium depth Length of geyser tube Enthalpy E! Enthalpy of state one E2 ae F g ag r agtjl G Enthalpy of state two Change in enthalpy Force of attraction Acceleration of gravity Change in vertical component in gravity Change in horizontal component in gravity Universal gravitational constant Xlll

11 XIV List of Symbols h K KE m m! ME MM Ms M!,M Z N P Ap Palm Po PG I pz P PI q Height (1) Coefficient of permeability; (2) Henry's constant (amount of gas in solution in water at given temperature and pressure); and (3) thermal conductivity Kinetic energy Length of borehole Mass of water in vent of Velikan just before eruption Mass of bubble wall per gram of steam Mass of steam discharged by Velikan during play Mass of water discharged by Velikan during play Total mass discharged by Velikan Mass of water and steam emptied from Velikan Mass of earth Mass of moon Mass of sun Mass of bodies 1 and 2, respectively Number of bubbles (1) Vapor pressures; (2) Pressure on water at depth d Pressure difference Standard atmospheric pressure Ambient atmospheric pressure Vapor pressure at depth d! Pressure in reservoir Hydrostatic pressure Hydrostatic pressure at depth d l (1) Rate of heat transfer; (2) Rate of inflow of fluid Rate of inflow of cold water Rate of inflow of hot water Rate of inflow of water into geyser tube per unit cross section of tube area Total rate of inflow, qc +'lh Rate of inflow of water and steam Radius Separation of body masses Distance between earth and moon Distance between earth and sun

12 List of Symbols xv T at w W Temperature, C Temperature at which water enters geyser tube Temperature at which water enters geyser tube exceeds boiling point at surface Absolute (Kelvin) temperature Temperature difference Temperature in aquifer Temperature of cold water Equilibrium temperature after mixing of hot and cold waters during filling Equilibrium temperature after mixing of hot and cold waters after reservoir is full Temperature of hot water Temperature of residual water Temperature of steam Temperature of vapor Water temperature at start of eruption Temperature at which water enters geyser reservoir Temperature of water in just-filled reservoir Velocity of jet (1) Initial velocity of jet; (2) Velocity fluid is projected upward from geyser orifice Volume Volume of bubbles flowing up tube per unit time per unit cross section Volume of water in reservoir after eruption (1) Volume of steam discharged per second per unit cross section of orifice area; (2) Volume of steam formed from ms grams of steam Specific volume of steam Volume of water discharged per second per unit cross section of orifice area Volume of reservoir A Volume of gas bubbles reduced to standard conditions Volume of residual water in reservoir after eruption Wall thickness of bubble Excess heat energy

13 xvi List of Symbols x Fraction of total mass ex (1) Ratio volume of spring gas to volume of spring water; (2) Deflection of the vertical {3 Constant in Na-K-Ca ratio equation P P Po Ps PS o Pv Pw Pw+b Pw+s a T Te T s TJ Density of liquid water Average density of superincumbent column of fluid Average density of fluid (water and steam) Density of steam Density of steam under standard conditions Density of water vapor in bubbles Density of water Density of water and bubbles Density of water and steam Heat of vaporization of water Time Total eruption time of Velikan Length of steam phase of Velikan Time interval between eruptions T 1 (I) Time for boiling surface to move down from depth d 1 to d 1 + ~dl' hence length of play; (2) Time to fill reservoir T 2 tfjm tfjs Time when channel becomes full Radius vector between moon and earth Radius vector between sun and earth

The GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION of the RIVER NILE

The GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION of the RIVER NILE The GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION of the RIVER NILE RUSHDI SAID Senior Research Scientist Institute of Earth and Man Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas Senior