Here's the NEWS (//%22http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53384%22)
This is what we should be doing around here. How easy it would be to go into and recomplete dry or abandoned oil or gas wells to do this.
Or, from the bottom of our feet.
I shouldn't be such a cynic, but when I read stories like this, my first thought is the scene in "Brewster's Millions" where Richard Pryor bought into the scam to put diesel engines in icebergs and "drive" them like ships to where water was needed.
Geothermal is an interesting concept. I think a lot of people have paradigms of geothermal wells based on the heat-pump technology used in this area with much shallower wells. It's not a failure, but not a runaway success either. The current usage is basically as the condensor on heat pump systems.
Most generally, hydronic heating (hot water recirculation, either through coils or radiant flooring or wall panels) is done with 120 to 180 degree F water. Steam heat is usually in the 220 deg. F range (about 4 psi or so).
Most power generation turbines need super-heated steam (>1000 psi) to generate enough capacity. I don't have my tables in front of me, but that would fall in the 750 deg. F range.
It's all heat transfer of Btu's. As you transfer the Btu's you deplete the source and it must be re-plenished. I'm not an educated geologist, but it seems that after awhile that many of the wells will "cool off".
You'd be talking serious deep core wells to get the kind of temps you'd need for large scale electrical production. I don't see it ever being practical for individual house-holds to each have a well for heat, but it could be feasible for large structures, and I wouldn't totally rule it out for power.
I would assume the costs going in might be in line or lower than a nuke plant. It certainly would meet with less resistance. There again, we might be messing with another aspect of nature which could become uncontrolable by tapping into it. The idea of creating volcanos comes to mind.
quote:
Originally posted by Conan71
I shouldn't be such a cynic, but when I read stories like this, my first thought is the scene in "Brewster's Millions" where Richard Pryor bought into the scam to put diesel engines in icebergs and "drive" them like ships to where water was needed.
Geothermal is an interesting concept. I think a lot of people have paradigms of geothermal wells based on the heat-pump technology used in this area with much shallower wells. It's not a failure, but not a runaway success either. The current usage is basically as the condensor on heat pump systems.
Most generally, hydronic heating (hot water recirculation, either through coils or radiant flooring or wall panels) is done with 120 to 180 degree F water. Steam heat is usually in the 220 deg. F range (about 4 psi or so).
Most power generation turbines need super-heated steam (>1000 psi) to generate enough capacity. I don't have my tables in front of me, but that would fall in the 750 deg. F range.
It's all heat transfer of Btu's. As you transfer the Btu's you deplete the source and it must be re-plenished. I'm not an educated geologist, but it seems that after awhile that many of the wells will "cool off".
You'd be talking serious deep core wells to get the kind of temps you'd need for large scale electrical production. I don't see it ever being practical for individual house-holds to each have a well for heat, but it could be feasible for large structures, and I wouldn't totally rule it out for power.
I would assume the costs going in might be in line or lower than a nuke plant. It certainly would meet with less resistance. There again, we might be messing with another aspect of nature which could become uncontrolable by tapping into it. The idea of creating volcanos comes to mind.
well, if a volcano sprouts up in tulsa, it will do several billion in capital improvements. a safer source of thermal power would simply be to tap the city officials....most of them are good sources for hot air.
Inteller shoots...and scores...