Engineering and economic feasibility of utilizing geothermal heat from the Heber Reservoir for industrial processing purposes at Valley Nitrogen Producers Inc. , El Centro Agricultural Chemical Plant. Second quarterly report
The initial economic evaluation is provided of the alternatives to natural gas consumption identified in the first quarterly report. Using estimates of well costs, well flow, well life, temperature, enthalpy, and rates of return on invested capital, the cost of brine production has been estimated in terms of a demand charge and an energy charge. Capital costs of geothermal flash steam and binary systems from 5 to 30 gross MW capacities have been estimated utilizing a modified Battele Pacific Northwest Laboratories GEOCOST computer program. Fossil fuel costs, geothermal brine costs, and rate of inflation have been projected through 1997. Using these data, the thermal cycle efficiencies, and the capital cost data, the projected annual cost savings and the internal rate of return, as a function of the amount of fossil fuel displaced by geothermal energy, have been calculated and preliminary conclusions have been drawn based on this overall economic evaluation. In addition to an overall economic evaluation, an individual energy utilization evaluation was undertaken. Using estimates of capital costs, energy costs, and energy conversion efficiencies, a total unit charge rate in $/Hp-hr was assigned to each existing equipment driver and each proposed energy alternative to determine the best method for substituting geothermal energy for existing fossil fuel energy in the VNP Plant Steam Cycle. An optimal cost-effective plan for individual energy utilization in the VNP Plant Steam Cycle was developed from this evaluation and preliminary conclusions drawn.
- Research Organization:
- WESTEC Services, Inc., San Diego, CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-03-1323
- OSTI ID:
- 5665161
- Report Number(s):
- SAN-1323-T1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Engineering and economic feasibility of utilizing geothermal heat from the Heber reservoir for industrial processing purposes at Valley Nitrogen Producers Inc. , El Centro agricultural chemical plant. Final report
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Related Subjects
FERTILIZER INDUSTRY
GEOTHERMAL PROCESS HEAT
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
BINARY-FLUID SYSTEMS
BRINES
CAPITAL
CHEMICAL PLANTS
COOLING TOWERS
COST
ELECTRIC MOTORS
FLASHED STEAM SYSTEMS
FLASHING
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
HEBER GEOTHERMAL FIELD
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
TURBINES
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY
EVAPORATION
FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
HEAT
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INDUSTRY
MACHINERY
MOTORS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
POWER PLANTS
PROCESS HEAT
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TURBOMACHINERY
Geothermal Legacy
151000* - Geothermal Energy- Direct Energy Utilization