A digital twin for simulating geochemical processes in geothermal power plants

We are currently researching the use of artificial intelligence to increase the efficiency of geothermal energy production. We are developing both a digital twin of the geothermal power plant (cyber-physical system), with its sensors and actuators, and a digital twin of the hydrogeochemical processes (process simulation) within the thermal water cycle.
In terms of the geochemical digital twin, energy production in geothermal power plants is linked to the basic hydrochemical conditions of the fluid. Changes in pressure, temperature or pH alter the chemical equilibrium of the extracted thermal water, which can lead to uncontrolled processes such as mineral precipitation, outgassing and corrosion. To better map these processes, a digital twin has been developed and applied to several geothermal power plants. The simulations are automatically calculated, transferred and evaluated. This allows the new geochemical equilibrium conditions to be directly determined and interpreted as the power plant parameters change. These process simulations, in combination with the cyber-physical system, form the basis for implementing artificial intelligence to increase the efficiency of geothermal power plants.