Physical and Transport Processes in Subsurface Thermal Energy Storage Systems and Their Optimization

Subsurface thermal energy storage represents a promising technology for improving energy efficiency and enabling the integration of renewable energy sources, particularly in the context of seasonal heat storage. The performance of these systems is strongly influenced by complex physical and transport processes occurring in the geological environment, including heat conduction, fluid flow, and interactions between the subsurface medium and the engineered system. The proposed research focuses on the systematic investigation of these processes in subsurface thermal energy storage systems, with an emphasis on their quantification and mutual interactions. The study will involve experimental characterization of geological media and working fluids, as well as numerical modeling of heat transfer and fluid flow. The acquired knowledge will be used to design and optimize system parameters in order to maximize storage efficiency and minimize losses. The objective is to advance the understanding of these systems and to provide a basis for their efficient design and practical implementation.