Head of the ITS PKM-RE team, Yusuf Chandra ST, simulating energy extraction in abandoned oil wells using the Computational Fluid Dynamics method.

ITS Campus, ITS News — There are more than 13,000 abandoned oil wells in Indonesia that have the potential to be new energy sources. Not sitting idle, the Student Creativity Program – Exact Research (PKM-RE) team of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has succeeded in innovating nanofluids that can increase the productivity of geothermal energy extraction into electrical energy by up to 21.3 percent.

In more detail, ITS PKM-RE team member Wury Handayani explained that the nanofluid developed by her team is a water-based liquid containing zinc oxide (ZnO) core nanoparticles. The particles were chosen because they are known for their high thermal conductivity, making them very effective in transferring heat. “However, these particles easily settle, so we added two layers of titanium dioxide (TiO2) to increase the stability of the nanofluid,” she added.

Furthermore, the team from the ITS Engineering Physics Department used the nanofluid in an organic rankine cycle. This cycle usually requires a boiler to heat the water to its boiling point of 100 degrees Celsius, so that it can produce high-pressure steam to rotate the turbine. Furthermore, the rotating turbine is connected to a generator that produces electrical energy.

Members of the ITS PKM-RE team during the synthesis of ZnO@TiO2 core-shell nanofluids at the ITS Advanced Functional Materials Laboratory

However, the use of water boilers is considered less effective because it requires high heat energy. This is because the ZnO@TiO2 core-shell nanofluid has a relatively low boiling point of around 25 degrees Celsius, so it can accelerate the production of high-pressure steam. “Because the heat from the earth’s core is enough to boil this nanofluid, we don’t need a water boiler to produce steam so it is more effective,” explained Wury.

By utilizing the nanofluid as a substitute for water, the capacity of electrical energy that can be produced by a steam power plant is 1.3 megawatts. If this innovation is applied to thousands of abandoned oil wells in Indonesia, it is estimated that national electricity production can increase by up to 20 gigawatts. So that it can make a significant contribution to the target of increasing the portion of renewable energy by 29.8 percent.

The ITS PKM-RE Team (from left) Muhammad Reza Hardiyansyah, Yusuf Chandra, Wury Handayani, and Alif Risyan Syahbana when they won the gold medal at the 37th Pimnas

Not only producing sustainable research, the team consisting of four students who have just graduated have succeeded in winning the 37th National Student Scientific Week (Pimnas) last October. This team managed to bring home a gold medal for the PKM-RE poster category. This victory is a source of pride for the team because it has succeeded in bringing honor to the alma mater.

Finally, the student from Probolinggo hopes that research on nanofluids can be developed further. This is in line with the government’s efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and achieve clean energy targets. “Nanofluids are a more efficient alternative fluid solution, especially to utilize the potential of abandoned oil wells in Indonesia,” he concluded. (ITS PUBLIC RELATIONS)

Reporter: Syahidan Nur Habibie Ash-Shidieq