An Engineering Design for Geothermal Commercial and Industrial Direct Heat Applications in Salida, Colorado

Abstract

The Salida Geothermal Prospect (Poncha Hot Springs) is being evaluated for commercial and industrial direct heat applications in Salida, Colorado, located approximately five miles east. The prospective energy use includes domestic space heating and hot water, commercial space heating and hot water for motels, restaurants, greenhouses, and swimming pool, and industrial space and process heat requirements for existing and future facilities. The objective of the engineering design is to use the full flow capacity of the resource and to provide for future development of commercial and industrial sectors of Salida. The engineering evaluation has included significant design features, including cascaded waste, warm water fish hatching, pipeline crossing of a river, and geothermal fluid cooling and discharge to the Arkansas River. Engineering feasibility of the geothermal well supply and of selected user facility retrofits has been demonstrated.