Evaluation of geothermal cooling systems for Arizona

Technical Report · Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6822795· OSTI ID:6822795

White, D H; Goldstone, L A

Arizona consumes nearly 50 percent more electricity during the peak summer season of May through part of October, due to the high cooling load met by electrical-driven air conditioning units. This study evaluates two geothermal-driven cooling systems that consume less electricity, namely, absorption cooling and heat pumps. Adsorption cooling requires a geothermal resource above 105{sup 0}C (220{sup 0}F) in order to operate at a reasonable efficiency and capacity. Geothermal resources at these temperatures or above are believed existing in the Phoenix and Tucson areas, but at such depths that geothermal-driven absorption systems have high capital investments. Such capital investments are uneconomical when paid out over only five months of operation each year, but become economical when cascaded with other geothermal uses. There may be other regions of the state, where geothermal resources exist at 105{sup 0}C (220{sup 0}F) or higher at much less depth, such as the Casa Grande/Coolidge or Hyder areas, which might be attractive locations for future plants of the high-technology industries. Geothermal assisted heat pumps have been shown in this study to be economical for nearly all areas of Arizona. They are more economical and reliable than air-to-air heat pumps. Such systems in Arizona depend upon a low-temperature geothermal resource in the narrow range of 15.5 to 26.6{sup 0}C (60 to 80{sup 0}F), and are widely available in Arizona. The state has over 3000 known (existing) thermal wells, out of a total of about 30,000 irrigation wells.

• Research Organization: Arizona Univ., Tucson (USA). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
• DOE Contract Number: FC03-80RA50076
• OSTI ID: 6822795
• Report Number(s): DOE/RA/50076-13; ON: DE83005311
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL AIR CONDITIONING
ABSORPTION REFRIGERATION CYCLE
WATER SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
ARIZONA
CAPITALIZED COST
ECONOMICS
EVALUATION
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
URBAN AREAS
AIR CONDITIONING
COST
FEDERAL REGION IX
HEAT PUMPS
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
USA
WELLS
Geothermal Legacy
151000* - Geothermal Energy- Direct Energy Utilization