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Hot-water power from the earth

Journal Article · · Geotherm. Energy Mag.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6628304
This article examines geothermal sites on the West Coast in order to show the progress that has been made in converting geothermal energy into usable electric power. Only about 0.5% of the earth's geothermal reserve can be brought to the surface as dry steam. California's Imperial Valley is possibly the largest geothermal resource in the US. Three demonstration generating plants are each producing between 10 and 14 MW of power near the valley's Salton Sea. The high-temperature water (above 410/sup 0/F) at Brawley is drawn from wells tapping the subterranean reservoir. It is proposed that hot-water power will be economical when methods are found to extract maximum energy from a geothermal deposit and to control clogging and corrosion caused by minerals dissolved in the hot fluid.
OSTI ID:
6628304
Journal Information:
Geotherm. Energy Mag.; (United States), Journal Name: Geotherm. Energy Mag.; (United States) Vol. 12:2; ISSN GTEMA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English