Geothermal research at the Geo-Heat Center Oregon Institute of Technology

The Geo-Heat Center was established in 1974 to provide information and technical services for geothermal energy direct-use and development-mainly utilizing low- and moderate-temperature resources (<150°C). The Center is funded by the Geothermal Division of USDOE. Its main functions are: (1) technical assistance; (2) resource information; (3) advising and referrals; (4) speaker's bureau; (5) tours of geothermal systems; (6) publications; (7) research; and (8) stocking a geothermal library. The Center has developed a “Geothermal direct use engineering and design guidebook” and publishes a free “Quarterly bulletin” on geothermal direct-use projects and research. The Geo-Heat center also has a website. Several of these direct-use research projects are discussed in the paper, including: (a) downhole heat exchangers; (b) a cost comparison of commercial ground-source heat pump systems; (c) a spreadsheet for geothermal energy cost evaluation; (d) utilization of silica waste from geothermal power production; (e) fossil fuel-fired peak heating for geothermal greenhouses; (f) selected cost considerations for the geothermal district heating in existing single-family residential areas; and (g) collocated resources inventory of wells and hot springs in the Western USA