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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0347.001 2004-2006 ~Y OI y- Harry Kim ~~~.'•.a Jane H. Testa Mayor Director ,•~~•o~.M~I County of Hawaii DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 25 Aupuni Street, Room 219. Hilo, Hawaii 967201!252 (808) 961-8366 • Fax (808) 935-1205 E-mail: chresdev@in[etpac.net About the Direct Heat Utilization of Geothermal Energy Study The County of Hawaii, with support from the State and funds from the U.S. Department of Energy, is beginning a study of ways that direct heat from geothermal energy could benefit businesses and the community in lower Puna. Here are some questions and answers about the study. Q1: What is "direct utilization of geothermal energy"? "Direct utilization" (or "direct use") means using geothermal heat for non-electric purposes. Worldwide, common direct uses of geothermal energy include aquaculture, drying agricultural products, healing buildings, heating greenhouses, and spas. Q2: What will the study include? 1) Sharing information on direct uses of geothermal heat with residents of lower Puna (Pahoa, Kapoho, Pohoiki, Leilani Estates, etc.) and discussing their thoughts about direct use opportunities; 2) Conducting a feasibility study to identify costs and benefits of potential direct use business opportunities and to determine if it's a good idea to locate several of the enterprises together in an "incubator" park so that small businesses can test and implement ideas inexpensively; and 3) Learning if support for geothermal direct use is something for which the community thinks the County's existing Geothermal Royalty Fund and Geothermal Asset Fund should be used. Q3: What kinds of businesses will be studied? The study will identify a variety of businesses that could make use of geothermal heat. Among the suggestions thus far are: greenhouse bottom heating, lumber drying, pasteurizing growing media for greenhouses, providing cold storage for fishing and other enterprises, aquaculture, spas, and drying fruits, vegetables, or fish. Other ideas that support current agricultural activities in Puna will be sought from residents and businesses in the area. Q4: What hot water resources will be studied? There are two main resources that could support direct use businesses. One is the waste heat from Puna Geothermal Venture's power plant. The other resource is the hot groundwater that underlies the lower East Rift Zone of Kilauea. This groundwater is naturally heated-between body temperature and boiling-at relatively shallow depths, less than 1,D00 feet. It could be pumped to the surface using normal water wells. Q5: How will information be shared? The County of Hawaii established a working group to facilitate communication with the community. There will also be public information sessions. Q6: Will there be any construction, drilling, etc. as part of this project? No. The project is a feasibility study and does not include any implementation. Q7: How long will the study run? The feasibility study should be completed in early 2007. Discussion and communication with the public will continue throughout the study period. Comm. No. Ref. To: Prew~ Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Employer 1 C Raf. Date ~ U V An Example of Direct Utilization of Geothermal Heat User Application' Backup Unit Heat Exchanger O ~p? 7o Disposal Geothermal Water Working Fluid For many direct uses of geothermal heat, hot water is pumped from fairly shallow sources. The heat may be transferred to a "working fluid," which could be potable water or even air, using a heat exchanger. (In other cases, such as aquaculture or spas, the geothermal water might be used directly, without a heat exchanger.) 'The "user application" could be a dehydration unit for fruit, vegetables or fish, such as the one illustrated below. Heat would be delivered at point #5, the "heater," which is a heat exchanger. In this illustration, hot geothermal fluid or heated potable water would enter the heat exchanger, and the fan would blow air across it, heating the air, which is then used to dry the produce. The arrows show the path of air flow. 1. Air inlet 4. Fans 2. Air outlet 5. Heater 3. Adjustable valves O ~ 6. Pallets with trays 11Jtj1 O Lll Graphic concepts courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy and [he Oregon Ins[iNte of Technology's Geo-Heat Crnter. Prepared by Staff of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism in cooperation with [he County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development, January 2005 t~ Uses of Geothermal Heat ' ~ ~ Flash & Dry Steam eothermal Power Plants _ Typical direct (non-electric) uses of geothermal energy at different ~ ® temperatures tr E ~ ~ ~'t/ ~ `f ~ Cement & }1, ~J y~ Refriger- Aggregate ~5~ `~r -`1 I~ anon & DMn9 - r'~ kemaki , o , o n9 ~ Sugar Ott , Binary ' ' ' _ Evaporation eothermal Ethanol, ~ Onlon& 6Pulp Power Biofuels Garlic ~n9 Plants Production ~ ihyin9 Lumber t t Fabrk DMn9 ~ ' • ` Dyeing ~ Building Heating & ,r~ Coding Blanching, ?J~,G?, Fruit & - ~ & Cooking Vegetable Water ~ r Dm~9 Concrete Food Heating Pasteur- o ~ Block Processing ization Curing • Green- w Q o housing Mushroom ,.t 'i? ~,--w.Y~ > ~ ~ . w ,b=-Y: & Soil Cuhure ~ % , , =~-r''°_ Sterilization f Biogas ° ~ ~ Production Snow g g r culture' Bathing g,p an ~ r Geo- soil r thermal Warming Heat Pumps Illustrates ecisting, past, and proposed uses worldwide. aGcahmnil Edwnm «fice ]0°5 • •mw9eaRmrmalmannug •Cool water is added as needed to make the temperature just right f« the fish.