OIT geothermal system improvements
The Oregon Institute of Technology campus has been heated by the direct use of geothermal fluids since 1964. The 11 building campus uses geothermal energy for space heating/cooling, domestic water heating, the swimming pool and sidewalk snow melt. The hydronic system was designed to use the geothermal fluids directly in heating units. In the 1970s, problems were experienced with the design and operation of the well pumps, buried piping and heating equipment. Beginning in the early 1980`s, many improvements were made to the system due to equipment performance problems and resource management requirements. This paper discusses those improvements that included the distribution system, cooling, well pumps, cascading of geothermal fluids, installation of isolation plate heat exchangers in each building and drilling of two injection wells. Plans for future improvements include better controls to manage energy use and data monitoring systems for individual buildings, and instrumentation to monitor well pump performance.
- OSTI ID:
- 494343
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960913-; TRN: 97:002642-0018
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Annual meeting of the Geothermal Resources Council, Portland, OR (United States), 29 Sep - 2 Oct 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Geothermal development in the Pacific rim. Transactions, Volume 20; PB: 886 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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