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Elsevier

Surface Systems for Geothermal Energy Plants

  • 1st Edition - September 1, 2026
  • Latest edition
  • Editors: Klaus Brun, Karl Wygant, Lance Cook
  • Language: English

Surface Systems for Geothermal Energy Plants is a practical guide to designing and operating surface systems for modern geothermal power facilities. It details technical re… Read more

Description

Surface Systems for Geothermal Energy Plants is a practical guide to designing and operating surface systems for modern geothermal power facilities. It details technical realities, offering whole-system design insights for engineers, operators, maintenance teams, and researchers involved in planning, operations and maintenance (O&M), and technology development.

Key topics include power cycles, energy storage, plant machinery, heat exchangers, condensers, water treatment, reinjection, reliability, equipment selection, transient operation, and emerging technologies. Practical attention is given to commercial considerations and to integrating geothermal plants into the electric grid.

This volume equips professionals with the knowledge to address real-world operational hurdles, unlocking geothermal energy’s potential as a competitive, dispatchable option. It serves as an essential reference for advancing the next generation of geothermal technology.

Key features

· Provides focused coverage of surface systems essential to modern geothermal plants

· Offers practical guidance on equipment selection, design, and operation

· Outlines system layout, specifications, and requirements for power, storage, and heat pump applications

· Presents an overview of geothermal plant integration within electric grids

· Delivers in-depth discussion of major mechanical and thermal systems, including technology limits, challenges, benefits, and selection criteria

Readership

Industry professionals, especially geothermal engineers, energy planners, researchers, and government officials involved in the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of geothermal energy systems and geothermal energy plants

Table of contents

1. Background of Geothermal Energy

2. Various Power Cycles for Geothermal Systems

3. High Temperature (Super-Critical) Geothermal Systems

4. Application and Optimization of Surface Systems

5. Integrating Heat Exchangers into the Cycle

6. Turbomachinery Related to The Surface Systems

7. Machinery Design Challenges

8. Plant Surface System Considerations

9. Interaction of Surface and Sub-Surface Systems

10. Commercial Considerations

11. Technology Development and Demonstrations

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: September 1, 2026
  • Language: English

About the editors

KB

Klaus Brun

Dr. Brun is the Director of Research & Development at Elliott Group where he leads a group of over 60 professionals in the development of turbomachinery and related systems, products and infrastructures for the different energy industries, including renewable energies. His past experience includes positions in product development, applications engineering, project management, and executive management at Southwest Research Institute, Solar Turbines, General Electric, and Alstom. He holds twelve patents, has authored over 370 papers, and published six textbooks on energy systems and turbomachinery. Dr. Brun is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and won an R&D 100 award in 2007 for his Semi-Active Valve invention. He also won the ASME Industrial Gas Turbine Award in 2016 and 14 individuals ASME Turbo Expo Best Paper/Tutorial awards. Dr. Brun has chaired several large conferences including the ASME Turbo Expo and the Supercritical CO2 Power Cycles Symposium. Dr. Brun is a member of the Global Power Propulsion Society Board of Directors and the past chair of the ASME International Gas Turbine Institute Board of Directors, the ASME Oil & Gas Applications Committee, and ASME sCO2 Power Cycle Committee. He is a member of the API 616 Task Force, the ASME PTC-10 task force, the Asia Turbomachinery Symposiums Committee, and the Supercritical CO2 Symposium Advisory Committee. Dr. Brun is currently Executive Correspondent of Turbomachinery International Magazine and an Associate Editor of several journal transactions.
Affiliations and expertise
Director of Research and Development, Elliott Group, Pennsylvania, USA

KW

Karl Wygant

Dr. Wygant is the Senior Manager of Advanced Technology Programs at Elliott Group. In this role he helps define technology needs for future product introduction to the market. Dr. Wygant was previously COO of Hanwha Power Systems Americas, an OEM of integrally geared compressors) where he oversaw business operations in North and South America. He concurrently led new product development of integrally geared products for: LNG, Plant Air, Air Separation, Oil and Gas Applications as well as the design and development of a 5MW super-critical carbon dioxide power system for concentrated power and heat recovery applications. He holds a Ph.D. from University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from Norwich University.
Affiliations and expertise
Senior Manager of Advanced Technology Programs, Elliott Group, New Houston, Texas, USA

LC

Lance Cook

Lance Cook, a University of Texas at Austin Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering graduate, has more than 40 years of oil field experience, with his most recent role at Shell as VP of Global Wells Technology. Currently, he is the President and Chief Technology Officer of Sage Geosystems. During his time at Shell, Lance focused on drilling optimization and streamlining drilling operations to achieve efficient and commercially viable outcomes. His expertise lies in driving innovations for practical applications and ensuring lean manufacturing processes in the drilling industry.
Affiliations and expertise
President and Chief Technology Officer, Sage Geosystems