Study of Natural Water Bodies in the Chelyabinsk Region to Classify Them in Terms of Thermal Energy Potential
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24160/1993-6982-2026-3-65-73Keywords:
low-grade thermal energy of lakes, thermal energy zoning, heat reserves, heat pump, classification of natural water bodiesAbstract
Lakes can serve as sources of low-grade thermal energy, the potential of which can be assessed by studying the temperature conditions of water bodies. It is not possible to study each and every lake; constant stationary observations of the thermal conditions of natural water bodies have been reduced. The purpose of the study is to analyze the morphometric characteristics of lakes in the Chelyabinsk region and determine their thermal energy potential to classify them for thermal energy zoning. In carrying out the study, methods of a systematic approach, analysis, and synthesis of existing knowledge about the lakes in the Chelyabinsk region, water bodies thermal classification methods, as well as statistical data processing and their systematization were used. Based on the data available from long-term observations of lake thermal conditions, the gross thermal energy potential of the lakes considered has been determined. The dependences of the specific gross thermal energy potential of the lakes per unit water surface area and per unit volume have been revealed, which made it possible to determine the potential for water bodies the data of long-term observations for which are not available, but with known morphometric characteristics. The lakes in the Chelyabinsk region have been classified, and six thermal energy regions have been identified in terms of the possibility of utilizing low-grade thermal energy of lakes that can be used, by means of a heat pump installation, for heating or hot water supply purposes. Lakes of tectonic origin are the most promising ones for year-round use of thermal energy owing to their having a large specific gross potential.
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Для цитирования: Гусева О.А., Пташкина-Гирина О.С. Исследование естественных водоемов Челябинской области с целью их классификации по теплоэнергетическому потенциалу // Вестник МЭИ. 2026. № 3. С. 65—73. DOI: 10.24160/1993-6982-2026-3-65-73
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Работа выполнена при поддержке Российского научного фонда (грант № 25-29-20063), https://rscf.ru/pro-ject/25-29-20063/ и Челябинской области
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Конфликт интересов: авторы заявляют об отсутствии конфликта интересов
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For citation: Guseva O.A., Ptashkina-Girina O.S. Study of Natural Water Bodies in the Chelyabinsk Region to Classify Them in Terms of Thermal Energy Potential. Bulletin of MPEI. 2026;3:65—73. (in Russian). DOI: 10.24160/1993-6982-2026-3-65-73
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The Work was Supported by the Russian Science Foundation (Grant No. 25-29-20063), https://rscf.ru/project/25-29-20063/ and the Chelyabinsk region
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Conflict of interests: the authors declare no conflict of interest
