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Simulating Plasma Formation in Pores under Short Electric Pulses for Plasma Pulse Geo Drilling (PPGD)

Author

Listed:
  • Mohamed Ezzat

    (Geothermal Energy and Geofluids Group, Institute of Geophysics, Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Daniel Vogler

    (Geothermal Energy and Geofluids Group, Institute of Geophysics, Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Martin O. Saar

    (Geothermal Energy and Geofluids Group, Institute of Geophysics, Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
    Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA)

  • Benjamin M. Adams

    (Geothermal Energy and Geofluids Group, Institute of Geophysics, Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland)

Abstract

Plasma Pulse Geo Drilling (PPGD) is a contact-less drilling technique, where an electric discharge across a rock sample causes the rock to fracture. Experimental results have shown PPGD drilling operations are successful if certain electrode spacings, pulse voltages, and pulse rise times are given. However, the underlying physics of the electric breakdown within the rock, which cause damage in the process, are still poorly understood. This study presents a novel methodology to numerically study plasma generation for electric pulses between 200 and 500 kV in rock pores with a width between 10 and 100 μm. We further investigate whether the pressure increase, induced by the plasma generation, is sufficient to cause rock fracturing, which is indicative of the onset of drilling success. We find that rock fracturing occurs in simulations with a 100 μm pore size and an imposed pulse voltage of approximately 400 kV. Furthermore, pulses with voltages lower than 400 kV induce damage near the electrodes, which expands from pulse to pulse, and eventually, rock fracturing occurs. Additionally, we find that the likelihood for fracturing increases with increasing pore voltage drop, which increases with pore size, electric pulse voltage, and rock effective relative permittivity while being inversely proportional to the rock porosity and pulse rise time.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohamed Ezzat & Daniel Vogler & Martin O. Saar & Benjamin M. Adams, 2021. "Simulating Plasma Formation in Pores under Short Electric Pulses for Plasma Pulse Geo Drilling (PPGD)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-23, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:16:p:4717-:d:607850
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Changping Li & Longchen Duan & Songcheng Tan & Victor Chikhotkin & Wenpeng Fu, 2019. "Damage Model and Numerical Experiment of High-Voltage Electro Pulse Boring in Granite," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-19, February.
    2. Kant, Michael A. & Rossi, Edoardo & Duss, Jonas & Amann, Florian & Saar, Martin O. & Rudolf von Rohr, Philipp, 2018. "Demonstration of thermal borehole enlargement to facilitate controlled reservoir engineering for deep geothermal, oil or gas systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1501-1509.
    3. Emad A. Al-Khdheeawi & Doaa Saleh Mahdi, 2019. "Apparent Viscosity Prediction of Water-Based Muds Using Empirical Correlation and an Artificial Neural Network," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-10, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Romanov, D. & Leiss, B., 2022. "Geothermal energy at different depths for district heating and cooling of existing and future building stock," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    2. Ioan Sarbu & Matei Mirza & Daniel Muntean, 2022. "Integration of Renewable Energy Sources into Low-Temperature District Heating Systems: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-28, September.
    3. Malek, Adam E. & Adams, Benjamin M. & Rossi, Edoardo & Schiegg, Hans O. & Saar, Martin O., 2022. "Techno-economic analysis of Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C), pages 927-943.

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