Evaluation of a superheater enhanced geothermal steam power plant in the Geysers area. Final report

Technical Report · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6524790· OSTI ID:6524790

Janes, J

This study was conducted to determine the attainable generation increase and to evaluate the economic merits of superheating the steam that could be used in future geothermal steam power plants in the Geyser-Calistoga Known Geothermal Resource Area (KGRA). It was determined that using a direct gas-fired superheater offers no economic advantages over the existing geothermal power plants. If the geothermal steam is heated to 900/sup 0/F by using the exhaust energy from a gas turbine of currently available performance, the net reference plant output would increase from 65 MW to 159 MW (net). Such hybrid plants are cost effective under certain conditions identified in this document. The power output from the residual Geyser area steam resource, now equivalent to 1437 MW, would be more than doubled by employing in the future gas turbine enhancement. The fossil fuel consumed in these plants would be used more efficiently than in any other fossil-fueled power plant in California. Due to an increase in evaporative losses in the cooling towers, the viability of the superheating concept is contingent on development of some of the water resources in the Geysers-Calistoga area to provide the necessary makeup water.

• Research Organization: California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, Sacramento (USA). Siting and Environmental Div.
• OSTI ID: 6524790
• Report Number(s): P-700-84-003; ON: TI85900044
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150802* -- Geothermal Power Plants-- Power Plant Systems & Components
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
GEYSERS GEOTHERMAL FIELD
Geothermal Legacy
POWER PLANTS
RESOURCES
SUPERHEATERS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
WATER RESOURCES