Power Plant Engineering

2.20.3 SITE SELECTION
India has about 150 known geothermal sites having geothermal fluid of moderate and low tem-
perature (< 160°C). The geothermal fields in India are in the form of hot water springs (40 to 98°C) and
shallow water reservoir temperatures are less than 160°C.
The important hydro-geothermal resource locations are
Puga Hydro-Geothermal Field, Jammu and Kashmir.
West-Coast Hydro-Geothermal Field, Maharashtra, Gujarat.
Tattapani-Hydro-Geothermal Field, Madhya Pradesh.
Due to moderate and low temperatures of geothermal fluids, the prospects of geothermally elec-
trical power plants in India are very low. However, Geothermal Hydrothermal Energy is likely to have
several applications in the temperature range of 30°C to 190°C.
For site selection of geothermal energy, the following factor may be considered.
(1) Borax deposits present
(2) Some locations with water at 120°C at 200 to 500 m depths
(3) Na-Ca-Cl-SO
4
contents
(4) Some shallow depth reservoir with water at 80 to 110°C.
2.20.4 GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
The first mechanical conversion was in 1897 when the steam of the field at Larderello, Italy, was
used to heat a boiler producing steam which drove a small steam engine. The first attempt to produce
electricity also took place at Larderello in 1904 with an electric generator that powered four light bulbs
Fig. 2.31. First Geothermal Power Plant, 1904
Fig. 2.32. Modern Geothermal Power Plant.
Lardarello, Italy.

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NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY RESOURCES AND UTILISATION
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(as shown in Fig. 2.31). This was followed in 1912 by a condensing turbine; and by 1914, 8.5 mW of
electricity was being produced. By 1944 Larderello was producing 127 mW. The plant was destroyed
near the end of World War II, but was fortunately rebuilt and expanded and eventually reached 360 mW
in 1981.