Heber Binary-Cycle Geothermal Demonstration Power Plant: Half-load testing, performance, and thermodynamics

This report describes the project's activities during the period July 1986 through June 1987; and includes results of two annual outages and eight months of low power testing and operating. The Heber Binary-Cycle Geothermal Demonstration Power Plant is a 45 MWe electric power generating plant in the Imperial Valley of Southern California. The purpose of the Heber Binary Project is to demonstrate the capability of binary-cycle technology to economically utilize moderate-temperature (300/degree/F to 410/degree/F (150/degree/C to 210/degree/C)) geothermal resources for electric power production. The main objective of the project is to show performance, cost, and environmental acceptability of binary-cycle technology. Experience with demonstration plant and heat supply facilities is described. Details of equipment problems are included. Heat supply shortfall prevented the planned ascent to full power, but binary-cycle experience was favorable at power levels up to 50% of design. 68 refs., 80 figs., 34 tabs.