| Abstract |
Chena Hot Springs Resort, Alaska has a long and colorful history. The steam from the hot springs was first noticed in 1904 by a US Geological Survey crew and the springs themselves were actually located the next year by Robert Swan who was desperate for relief from pain of rheumatism. The springs were developed and primarily used by miners and some adventuresome Fairbanks residents who traveled up to three weeks to reach Chena. As travel conditions improved, the springs became more popular; however, business was not sufficient to survive, and after many different owners, the State of Alaska assumed the location. Little effort towards developing the geothermal resource was expended during this time, and eventually the facility went up for sale. In 1998, Bernie and Connie Karl bought the healing waters; and through their energy and the energy from the geothermal resource, the future began. The new owners saw the great potential of geothermal energy, especially in their locale near the Arctic Circle where some of the world’s coldest temperatures are recorded. They worked diligently to capture the heat from the geothermal resource which had previously been unused. The pool and buildings that traditionally used fossil fuel were the first to get geothermal heat, and then greenhouses were built to raise vegetables for use in the Resort’s restaurant year-round. Their big dream was to generate electrical power using geothermal water to replace the large diesel generators that powered the facility. Taking advantage of new binary technology developed by United Technology, Chena demonstrated the effective use of low temperature geothermal fluids to produce power. The power units at Chena utilize geothermal fluids at 74°C (165°F) to produce 200 KW each of power for the Chena Hot Springs Resort, the lowest geothermal temperature producing power in the world. The geothermal resource is presently producing power; heating the Resort’s numerous buildings, including 3 greenhouses; and providing healing waters to a large spa, even at temperatures as low as -40°C (-40°F). Ironically, it is also used to cool an ice museum, keeping the inside temperature for the ice sculptures at a constant -5°C (24°F) throughout the year, even when summer temperatures rise to the +32°C (+90°F) range. Chena is not sitting still. Recent deeper drilling has reached higher temperatures and flows which allow for greater application such as supplying geothermal power to neighbors near Chena in a distributed energy concept. Chena Power is also looking at new developments in power equipment design utilizing a screw expander concept to increase the efficiency of the binary units - (the first synchronous screw expander in the world). This means it can make power without a grid. The geothermal activities at Chena Hot Springs, Alaska are an example of what can be done with low temperature geothermal resources in a remote area. This example of power production, space heating and cooling, greenhouse operations, and self-sustainability could be repeated in many places throughout the world. Chena lives by and heartily promotes: SUSTAINABLE IS ATTAINABLE and RENEWABLE IS DOABLE. |