Geothermal Resource Requirements Vis-A-Vis Power Generation

Abstract

For the Northern Nevada Geothermal Power Project, the subject of resource requirements at varying downhole temperatures and turbine inlet pressures for a 55 MW flash steam geothermal power plant has been the subject of continuing discussion. Characteristics of the geothermal fields under consideration were not firm; the fields were under development. Thus, neither the resource nor the plant operating conditions could be set. To assist both the ultimate user and developer of the resource, a series of parametric sensitivity studies were conducted for initial evaluation of a field vis a vis the power plant. These studies illustrate the total interdependence of the geothermal resource and its associated power plant. The result have proven to be valuable in two major respects: (1) to determine the production required of a particular geothermal field to meet electrical generation output and (2) as field characteristics become firm, operation conditions ca be defined for the associated power plant.