【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Engineering Equipment】China’s First Carbon Dioxide Geothermal Project Goes into Operation 3133-2026

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Let’s give praise and support to the achievements made in China’s chemical engineering technology and equipment; your participation in discussions is the greatest encouragement. **********************【Ten Years of Progress in Chemical Engineering Equipment】A continuously updated summary post is available – feel free to join the discussions: https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html ***************** On May 19th, reporters learned from China Huaneng that the country’s first geothermal energy project utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide for heat extraction was put into operation in Zhengzhou, Henan, marking a new breakthrough in the efficient development and utilization of geothermal energy in China. In Zhengzhou, Henan, as the valves at the geothermal wellheads were opened, carbon dioxide entered the geothermal well, which extends to a depth of 2,500 meters, through pipelines to absorb heat and increase its temperature; thus, China’s first project for utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide to extract heat from geothermal sources was put into operation. Unlike traditional geothermal heating methods, this project uses supercritical carbon dioxide instead of water as the heat transfer medium. Supercritical carbon dioxide is sent to the bottom of geothermal wells, where it absorbs heat from underground before returning to the surface to be used for heating water. Compared to traditional geothermal water as a medium, supercritical carbon dioxide has a higher density and lower flow resistance, resulting in a higher heat extraction efficiency. The heat extraction capacity can be increased by about 20%, while energy consumption per unit of heating is reduced by 10%. Moreover, it is possible to avoid using groundwater throughout the process, preventing contamination of the geological strata and disturbance to the geological environment, thus ensuring clean and safe heat extraction. Once operational, the project will be able to meet the heating needs of over 18,000 square meters of residential buildings during winter. It can replace approximately 288 tons of standard coal per year, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 750 tons.