| Title | Klamath Falls Geothermal Heating District |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lund, John W.; Lienau, Paul J.; Culver, G. Gene; Higbee, Charles V. |
| Year | 1979 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | Direct Use; Economics; District Heating System; Moderate Temperature; USA; Oregon; Klamath Falls; Geology; Well Field; District Boundaries; Hydrology; Commercial District Heat Loads; Pumps; Heat Exchangers; Drilling Costs; Wellhead Pumps; System Design; P |
| Abstract | The City of Klamath Falls is proposing to construct a geothermal district heating project. Initially, the system will heat 14 government buildings (Phase I) in the downtown area, subsequently expanded to heat 11 blocks (Phase II), and then to heat the entire 54 block central business district (Phase III). Production wells will be drilled along the east boundary of the City, estimated to supply over 220°F water. A primary 8 inch diameter insulated steel pipeline placed in a concrete tunnel will supply geothermal fluid to a central heat exchange facility at the County Museum Building. Two plate heat exchangers will provide the necessary load for the initial 14 buildings. An injection well is located next to this facility. A closed loop secondary pipeline will supply heat to the 14 buildings at 200°F. This line will consist of buried insulated fiberglass reinforced pipe. The capital cost of the systems (Phase I) will be $1.4 million giving an equivalent annual capital, operation, and maintenance cost over a 20 year period of $150,000. Phase II cost of geothermal energy is estimated at $0.29 per therm, whereas the equivalent annual fossil fuel cost is estimated at $0.94 per therm. |