Albanian possibilities on geothermal direct utilization

The Llixha Elbasan hot springs are among the most important geothermal springs of Albania. Balneological use dates back centuries, but the first modern use started in 1937. Unfortunately this water has not been used for its energetic values yet. The temperature of the water is above 60 degrees C and the flow above 161/s, thus direct utilization is possible, in particular for space heating. Three-dimensional temperature field calculations and engineering calculations on a heating system with heat exchangers are presented here. The results show that the water temperature is expected to be stable and considerably higher temperature is expected through deep well drilling. Geothermal water of Llixha hot springs fulfils all requirements needed for a district heating system in the region. The University's Campus of Tirana is composed of 29 buildings, which are partially heated through a coal heater. The installed capacity is 2558 kW while the coal consumption is about 920 kg/h. The University's Campus of Tirana is one of the most important areas and with the highest density of population in Tirana, so it is the best area to show the heat exchanger efficiency. The economical analyses prove that the borehole heat exchangers are more convenient than the coal heating systems. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.