Noi'i O Puna - the Puna Research Center, Hawaii

Abstract

Construction for a high technology rescxcn facility has been corrpleted on the grounds of HGFA, the only operating geothermal well in Hawaii , making this site unique for gaining expertise about Hawaiian geothermal well fluids. The research facility includes a wet chenistry laboratory, additional laboratory space, and a supervisory office. An open area has been designated for geothermal research in which high pressure brine will be provided for various experiments. Noi'i 0 Puna, The Puna Research Center (PRC), will enable vital research and development to be carried out in both geothermal electrical and nonelectrical applications, such as dehydration of agriculture and aquacultural products and recovery of the special silica particles/gel from the fluid. The research program at PRC will build on the presently known results at various research institutions throughout the world, and began with a cooperative research workshop held on August 23, 1985, in Hilo, sponsored by the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute through U.S. Department of Energy funding. Primary problems at the '&P-A site such as silica removal and hydrogen sulfide abatement are being looked upn as resource material for innovative geothermal industries. While silica poses to be a potentially major problem because increased geotheml development around EGP-A will cause a need for re-injection, the work to be accomplished at PRC will hopefully not only cure or alleviate this concern, but generate revenues to support the R&D program.