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ABSTRACT

AGRIBUSINESS AND SPACE CONDITIONING APPLICATIONSFOR THE CITY OF DESERT HOT SPRINGS 0

Y. Nakamura*J. Bickerstaffe**R. Oberstarb

*JET PROPULSION LABORATORYPASADENA, CA. 91103

**ROGERS ENGINEERING CO.. INC.SAN FRANCISCO. CA. 94111

ADESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA. 92240

This paper presents a status report ofa study to evaluate potential nonelectricapplications of an identifiable geothermalenergy resource underlying the City of DesertHot Springs, California. Promising Applica-tions identified to date include greenhouseculturing of European cucumber and aquacultureoperations of Malaysian freshwater prawn. Otherapplications being investigated involve spaceconditioning, refrigeration. water heating, andenergy cascading systems.

I. Introduction

Under the sponsorship of the Depart-ment of Energy Geothermal Energy Division andthe California Energy Resources Conservationand Development Commission, a study was initi-ated to evaluate potential applications of anidentifiable geothermil energy resource interms of engineering, economic, and institution-al considerations and to formulate the prelim-inary design and implementation plan of the mostpromising demonstration or industrial develop-ment project.

The study will focus upon a reservoir

specific, multi-use application of hydrothermalresources underlying the City of Desert HotSprings, California. Potential applications tobe considered include space conditioning ofcommercial and residential buildings and anagricultural and aquacultural installation inindividual as well as energy cascading systems.To extend the utility of the study findings, theassessment of potential applications will beconducted within the wider context of satisfyingbroad regional needs.

\\434

The project is administered and managed bythe City of Desert Hot Springs and supported pro-grammatically by Rogers Engineering Co., Inc. andthe Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

II. Background

The City of Desert Hot Springs (DHS) is asmall desert community encompassing approximatelynine square miles on a gently sloping alluvialfan at the northern end of the Coachella Valleyin Riverside County. As its name implies, theCity of Desert Hot Springs is richly endowedwith low.and moderate-temperature resources(Figure 1). These resources are attributable tomajor faults that subtend the City. The majorfault, Mission Creek Fault, consists of a nearvertical fault zone trending southeastly withseveral splinter breaks that extend toward theLittle San Bernardino Mountains on the northeast.

The present population is % 3600 full-time residents, but a peak weekend may draw over14,000 pe9ple. City growth, has in large part,been a product of the indigenous hot mineralsprings and spas which offer both therapy andrelaxation. Over the last decade, the mineralwaters and dry desert cllmate have made theCity a haven for many retired and semi-retiredpersons.

The City is further characterized bylacking a malor industry, limited employmentopportunities (which impede growth), major

requirement for space conditioning, and highenergy costs.

Further exploitation of the indigenousgeothermal resources offers a unique opportunityto develop this resource as a viable alternate

•> This paper presents the results of one phase of research carried out at the Jet Propulsion Labora-tory, California Institute of Technology, under Contract No. NAS7-100 for the Department of EnergyGeothermal Energy Division and the California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commis-

sion.

49

Nakamura

energy source for providing economic incentivesfor expansion of health resort activities andinitiation of new enterprises compatible withahealth resort community's needs and development

goals.

III. Project Status

Resource Characterization

In order to assess the nature and extentof the geothermal resource, the types 'of projectsthe resource can support, and how the resourcemust be managed to sustain these operations,an effort was initiated to determine (1) the arealextent of the geothermal aquifer system, (2) asafe yield for the hydrothermal resource, and(3) potential areas of recharge and reinjection.

A temperature isotherm map for the DHS

project site was constructed utilizing tempera-ture graduations representative of agribusinessand space conditioning thresholds (Figure 2).The surface extent determined by the 90 ° Fisotherm-is 5.45 square miles.

Two hot spots predominate in this re-gion; a southeastern pocket within De'sert HotSprings and the Dillion Road area (outside thecity limits ). This indicates that these twosystems may be isolated somewhat from eachother, most likely by the source of'their water

supply and heat.

The safest safe yields determinedfor potential project sites are as follows:

Temperature

900 F

120-150 ° F

150-1800.F

> 180° F

DHS Dillion Road Area

2,100 acre ft/yr

2,800 acre ft/yr,2,400 acre ftlyr

2,700 2',400

2,300

Recharge is preferred over reinj ectionas a means of managing the reservoir and the mostlikely locale for siting a recharge basin isalong the northern extremity of the City, near

the Blind Canyon Fault.

Requirements Ail•lysid '

The results of work conducted to dateindicate that commercialization of hydrothermalresources in Desert Hot Springs is primarily alocal impact which may, have beneficial effectson a more regional, kasis, such as the creationof a center of employement activity in thenorthern Coachella Valley not dependent upon

tourist trade.

Introduction of this technology is not

expected to significantly alter the socio-politi-cal structure of the community. Although thecommercial development of geothermal resourceswithin DHS can provide significant impetus to a

wider and more diversified economic base withinthe City, job opportunities appear to be aimed atthe younger permanent employees, and not atsignificant opportunities for senior citizensemployment on a part time basis.

The results of public attitude surveyshave not been analyzed; however, from the over-whelming number of people who belive that thegeothermal resource of their city should bedeveloped to its fullest potential, endorsement ofgeothermal development is expected to follow.

Screening criteria developed for candiateapplications include (1) technological/economicviability (2) community needs/goals, (3) resortmotif compatibility. (4) broad regional needs,(5) market potential, (6) public service impact,(7) environmental assessment, and (8) ongoingoperations compatibility considerations.

Greenhouse Cucumber Operations

A promising agricultural applicationidentified involved the greenhouse culturing ofEuropean cucumber that makes it a distinctlydifferent and superior product to conventionalfield cumcumbers. Some of the key selling fea-tures of the European cucumber are'the longershelf life, uniform high quality, superior taste,burpless, seedless, and no peeling needed. Addi-tionally, the produce lends itself to each of thechief requirements for effective market penetra-tion ( i.e., high quality fruit, high volume pro-duction, year round production).

Since its introduction into the domesticmarket, both demand and wholesale prices havegrown steadily to the point where profit marginscan be achieved year"round and the market is no-where near saturation.

Preliminary design of a 2 acre:greenhousecomplex, complete with packing, cold storage,and office facilities has been formulated.(Figure 3). The design has been narrowed to alinked metal frame greenhouse constru6tion withfiberglass panels, utilizing a recirculatingheating and single-pass evaporative cooling sys-tem. ' Estimates of capital and operating costs.aKe being developed to assess the economic,viabil-

ity of a DHS installation.

Aquaculture Operations

The giant Malaysian prawn (Madrobrachiumrosenbergii) has. been selected as the,targetshellfish for an aquaculture operati•i'at 'DehertHot Springs. This particular species.df fresh-water prawn appears well-suited to culturing fornumerous reasons: it grows rapidly at elevatedtemperatures, has an omnivorous diet, reproduceseasily in captivity, produces large numbers oflarvae per female, has relatively short larvalphases, is hardy and disease resistant, has goodfood conversion ratios, has good taste, and hasrelatively high market value.

50

Nakamura

The per capita consumption of shrimp andlobster tails, which the Macrobrachium is targetedto displace, has risen over the period from 1957to 1975.1 The shrimp market is volatile andsensitive to the economic conditions in the coun-try while lobster prices have exhibited a con-tinual upward trend from year to year. Recentmarketing programs of freshwater prawns on theeast coast have enjoyed success in displacing bothlobsters and shrimp by the introduction in a sizeand form comparable to the shellfish the prawndisplaced.2

Conceptual design studies of pond andraceway culturing of prawns have been conducted.A representative design of a raceway system ofequivalent yield to a one acre pond is presentedin Figure 4. The schematic is complete fromgeothermal well to recirculation and mixingcircuit, substrate culture, overflow, settlingpond. and reinjection well.

Studies are continuing to also assessautomated temperature control and feeding,fluoride tolerance and uptake, NH3 tolerancelevels, biomass buildup, effluent requirements,and potential beneficiation effects.

Work has not progressed'to the pointwhere conclusions regarding the preferred modeof operation can be drawn at the present time.

Space Conditioning Applications

In Order to assess the local marketpotential for geothermal space conditioning,a load survey for Desert Hot Springs was con-ducted along with cycle analyses to identifythe various heating and cooling options. Acomparison of the load to known resourcecharacteristics indicated that the safe yieldof the DHS hydrothermal resource could notaccommodate a centralized space conditioningnetwork for the entire community, but is ofsufficient capacity to sustain commercial andindustrial uses of space conditioning. coldstorage, and refrigeration.

Social-Legal-Institutional-Environmental Analysis

In order to define the framework inwhich geothermal proj ects can be implemented',an effort.is underway to assess socio-economicchanges. legal-institutional issues and require-ments. project management systems. and surfaceand subsurface effects resulting from projectimplementation.

The results of this work are expectedto yield a permitting flow diagram, well spacingand field development recommendations, fluidhandling and disposal recommendations, rankingof follow-on project, management plan. environrmental analysis, and project financingrecommendations.

Deliverables

The study will culminate in thepreliminary design and implementation plans of

the most promising demonstration or industrialdevelopment project as well as a self-start man-ual. The latter document should provide inter-ested communities and users having similar geo-thermal resources with a mechanism by which theymay readily evaluate appropriate nonelectricapplications to meet their specific needs andgain added insight into how best to implementthese applications.

IV. Tentative Findings

Work conducted to date has yielded thefollowing findings:

• Hydrological data substantiate the feasi-

bility of indigenous resources to supporttypical low temperature industrial develop-ment.

° The nature and extent of emerging operationsare not likely to significantly alter thesocio-political structure of the communityand are expected to be supported by thecommunity at large.

' Greenhouse culturing of European cucumbersappears to be a viable industrial under-taking that can add to the economic baseof the community.

' Aquaculture of Malaysian freshwater prawnsis also surfacing as a candidate pilotproject with significant market potential.

0 The hydrothermal resource, as presently

understood, is not of sufficient yield tototally space condition the entire community,but is of sufficient magnitude to sustaintypical industrial projects.

A more detailed description of the workperformed in this study may be found in thequarterly reports generated to date.3,4

Acknowledgement

B. Russell performed the resource charac-terization. R. L. Anglin, S. J. Ireland, J. S.Makihara, and E. Beauchamp conducted the com-munity needs analysis, public attitude survey,and market assessment. M. W. Leeds, H. JohnsonJr., and J. Van Olst conducted analysis onagribusiness operations.

References

1. U. S. Department of Commerce, NationalMarine Fisheries Service, Industry and Con-sumer Services Division, Shellfish MarketRaview and Outlook, Washington, D.C., U. S.Department of Commerce, November 1975.

2. Private Communications with Sun Oil Company,October 1977.

3. "Nonelectric Applications of Geothermal Re-sources at Desert Hot Springs, California",Quarterly Report SAN/1329-1, City of DesertHot Springs, California, August 1977.

51

Nakamura4. "Nonelectric Applications of Geothermal Re-

sources at Desert Hot Springs, California",Quarterly Report SAN/1329-2, City of DesertHot Springs, California, November 1977.

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HTG COOL'G UNITTYPICAL PER MODULE

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-ROLLUPDOOR\ --1><t -MTw-22 /-= 49 - 621 ---OFFICE/9LOADINGW-go=

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Figure 3. Proposed Greenhouse and Warehouse Development

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SETTLING -POND-•*--OVERFLOW-

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Figure 4. Raceway Culture System

53

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