Energy Systems & Geotechnics

at the Visualization Center TESSIN VISLab

This is a selection of our visualisation studies for hydrosystems:

Underground Research Laboratories

Underground research laboratories such as in Mont Terri are essential for intensive in-situ research on the storage of radioactive waste, to better understand processes and phenomena related to the usage of subsurface repositories. We have developed a prototype for an experimental information system for the Mont Terri URL, integrating geological information with CAD data, observation results, and numerical simulation results predicting the development of planned or ongoing experiments.

Videos

Project Links

GeomInt, iCross

Publications

  • N Graebling et al. (2023): Feels like an Indie Game – Evaluation of a Virtual Field Trip Prototype on Radioactive Waste Management Research for University Education. in IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications. DOI:10.1109/MCG.2023.3328169
  • N Graebling, Ö O Şen, L Bilke, et al. (2022): Prototype of a Virtual Experiment Information System for the Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory. Front Earth Sci 10, art. 946627. DOI:10.3389/feart.2022.946627
  • N Graebling, O Kolditz, K Rink (2021): VR Task: Development of a prototype (CD-A) for visual data- and model integration in the Mont Terri Rock Laboratory. The Mont Terri Project, Technical Report 2021-44.
  • K Rink, L Bilke, F Raith, et al. (2020): A Virtual Exploration of the Underground Rock Laboratory Mont Terri. EUROVIS 2020 WISDOME Contest.
  • P Bossart and A G Milnes (2018): Twenty years of reserach at the Mont Terri rock laboratory: what we have learnt. Swiss Journal of Geosciences. Birkhäuser Cham. DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-70458-6

Credits

To Swisstopo, the Mt. Terri Consortium, BGR, and the Helmholtz Association for continuous support.
GeomInt (BMBF grant 03G0866A), iCROSS (BMBF grant 02NUK053E, Helmholtz Association grant SO-093)


Energy Storage

Large underground stores are required for the storage of fluctuating renewable energy resources. In this project, the frequent loading and unloading of salt cavern arrays for gas storage is investigated from a geomechanical point of view.

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BtvH2kBt_4

Project Links

ANGUS+, H2-UGS

Publications

  • A Kabuth, A Dahmke, C Beyer, et al. (2017): Energy storage in the geological subsurface: dimensioning, risk analysis and spatial planning: the ANGUS+ project. Environ Earth Sci 76, art. 23. DOI:10.1007/s12665-016-6319-5
  • N Böttcher, U-J Görke, O Kolditz, T Nagel (2017): Thermo-mechanical investigation of salt caverns for short-term hydrogen storage. Environ Earth Sci 76, art. 98. DOI:10.1007/s12665-017-6414-2
  • M Nolde, M Schwanebeck, F Dethlefsen, et al. (2016): Utilization of a 3D webGIS to support spatial planning regarding underground energy storage in the context of the German energy system transition at the example of the federal state of Schleswig–Holstein. Environ Earth Sci 75, art. 1284. DOI:10.1007/s12665-016-6089-0

Credits

To the ANGUS team, to BMWi, BMBF for funding


Enhanced Geothermal Systems

Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) are being developed for tapping deep geothermal energy resources. Numerical modelling of the thermo-hydro-mechanical and even chemical processes helps for planning and assessing the environmental impacts of employing these systems.

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5FL62lyLhQ

Project Links

GEMex, POF-3 Groß Schönebeck

Publications

  • F Parisio, V Vilarrasa, W Wang, et al. (2017): The risks of long-term re-injection in supercritical geothermal systems. Nat Commun 10 (1), art. 4391 DOI:10.1038/s41467-019-12146-0

Credits

To the GFZ for collaboration and Helmholtz Association for funding within POF-3


Thermo-Chemical Heat Storage (NUMTHECHSTORE)

Thermal energy storage is of high strategic relevance for a sustainable energy system. The development of next generation storage systems like thermochemical solutions is accompanied by major scientific challenges. Due to the complexity of the considered storage systems and the exceptional efforts for the development of storage materials as well as for the implementation of large-scale experiments, modelling and numerical simulation are of outstanding importance for the prediction of the operational behaviour and the optimisation of thermochemical heat storage systems.

Videos

Project Link

NUMTHECHSTORE

Publications

  • T Nagel, S Beckert, C Lehmann et al. (2016): Multi-physical continuum models of thermochemical heat storage and transformation in porous media and powder beds — A review. Appl Energ 178, 323-345. DOI:10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.06.051

Credits

To Helmholtz Association for funding


Carbon Capture Storage

Geophysical (in particular seismic) exploration provides a better picture of subsurface systems and allows for better planning of geological CO2 storage repositories.

Project Link

PROTECT, CO2BENCH,

Publications

  • C M Krawczyk, D C Tanner, A Henk, et al.(2015): Seismic and sub-seismic deformation pre­dic­tion in the context of geological carbon trapping and storage. In: Geological Storage of CO2 – Long Term Security Aspects, Springer, Cham. pp 97–113. DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-13930-2_5

Credits

To the BMBF for funding within the Geotechnologies Program