Earth’s heat offers energy
Geothermal power may light the future
By E G. WHITE-SWIFT
Of the Emerald
"Where there is smoke, there is fire" is the first
lesson forest fire lookouts learn.
Oregon's energy planners are beginning to say
about the same thing: “Where there is steam or hot
spnngs, electricity is not far away.”
Converting steam and other types of geothermal
energy to electricity is not as simple as controlling a
forest fire Geothermal power plants will require a
maze of machinery to bring the earth's heat to the
surface and convert it into electricity
The type of machinery used will depend on the
type of geothermal energy that is exploited. There
are three general categories of geothermal energy:
dry-steam, wet-steam and hot dry-rock.
The technology of using dry steam from geo
thermal wells, which is done at the Geysers in northern
California, is well-developed and similar to other
steam-dnven turbine systems. Unfortunately, there
are only several dry-steam wells in the world
In the dry-steam process, the steam is pumped
out of a geothermal well into a turbine The steam has
enough pressure to run turbines that produce elec
tricity by turning generators Unused steam (a vapor)
would mix with cold water (a liquid) to condense or
concentrate it for easier handling Any hot water that
is left is pumped back into the ground, where it is
reheated in the geothermal zone
It is more common for geothermal wells to yield a
moisture of steam and hot water The steam is pro
duced because a portion of the hot water from be
neath the earth s surface spontaneously boils as it
rushes freely to the surface
This combination is less useful than dry steam,
since greater quantities of fluid must be produced by
a well to produce enough steam to run turbines In
the wet-steam or hot water process, hot water is
pumped from beneath the surface through a
separator
The steam is separated and run through the
turbines to generate electnaty, the remaning hot
water can be employed for many different purposes,
including hot water space heating, heating
greenhouses, de-icing streets and drying lumber.
The technology of using geothermal water for
various direct heating applications is relatively sim
ple except for problems relating to dissolved miner
als, that, in many installations, foul the piping and
heat exchange equipment.
The Oregon Department of Energy (DOE) is
encouraging all geothermal developers to reuse the
separated hot water, stretching the geothermal po
tential as far as possible.
"We call it the cascading effect,” says John
Marshall, a DOE energy planner working on alterna
tive energy sources in the department’s energy con
servation division.
At 300 degrees, the hot water is capable of
producing electricity. There is no sense wasting ex
cess hot water that may only be 180 degrees, when it
could be used for drying fish or wool, or even curing
cement forms,” he says.
"We want to keep recycling the hot water, even
though it keeps losing its heat, as long as the heat
can be put to some use. The cascade effect is de
veloping energy conservation into a new energy re
source at its best "
The only other type of geothermal resource is
dry hot rock below the earth s surface. To date, no
geothermal plants have been built to convert it to
electricity. Scientists are planning to drill holes over
the dry hot rocks and pump cold water into the holes.
As the cold water hits the rocks, steam will be pro
duced to run turbines.
Geothermal energy could, if more extensively
developed, play a significant part in the future energy
needs of the country. Estimates of future electrical
generation from geothermal sources range from a
conservative 5,000 megawatts, assuming only tech
nology presently available or under development, to
a potential 30,000 megawatts, based on an energetic
and successful research and development program
by both industry and the federal government.
The future of geothermal may be the future of
Oregon, too, as Oregon has the highest geothermal
potential of any state. Not far down the energy road is
a neon light flashing. Powered by Oregon geother
mal."
^A* A* A* A* A* A* A* A* A* A* A A,
-N
Group to display music
with unhurried style
Instead of the jumping, yelling, screaming, jive and razzle
dazzle theatrics many of today s groups feel are necessary to do
a live show, Eugene will be treated tonight with a performance
from a group known for the calm, unhurried and straight-forward
presentation of its music. Oregon, a group which takes its name
from our state, will perform tonight in the Eugene Hotel.
The name Oregon might stem from the fact that two mem
bers of the group, Ralph Towner and Glen Moore, studied com
position and musical theory here at the University. However it
might also come from the conjecture that the group's music’is
indicative of the feeling one perceives living in the state of
Oregon, essentially laid-back and easy but with a lot more going
on than readily meets the eye.
The group Oregon was formed by four members of the Paul
Winter Consort as a spinoff from that band. The four (Towner,
Moore, Paul McCandless and Colin Walcott) wanted to take the
idea which was used as a basis for the Consort, i.e., fusing
various musical influences and disciplines into a new sort of
universal sound, and give it more flexibility and seriousness than
they believed could be found within the confines of the Consort.
Oregon's sound is an exquisite combination of music past
and present, a fabric woven from strands of East India, Spain,
Vivaldi, and 1970s improvisational American jazz to mention but
a few of the influences. They weave complex and subtle melodic
and harmonic patterns around sounds that have their origin in the
New West and the Far East. The music is very calm and peaceful
but of such complexity that one can easily become wrapped up in
following the intricate passages laid down by the four.
Our namesake is appearing tonight at 8 and 10 p.m. Tickets
are $6.
******
Student Bar Association presents
A***
VINE DELORIA
The Future of Indian Law in
America
Tuesday, May 3 — 12:30
Law School — Room 129 E Everyone Welcome
rrrrm
ryPyprY^Y-ri-r i -?TTTTT*
Police list case numbers,
info on impounded bikes
Below is a list of impounded
bicycles the Eugene Police De
partment has for which they have
no owner
If you think one of these bicy
cles may be yours, please make a
note of the case number, and call
687-5106, Monday through Fri
day, 8:30 a m through 4:30 p m
CASE NUMBER
77-5810 CLASSIC, boys 3
speed, blue, 24"
77-5815 MAKE UNKNOWN, boys
1-speed, grey, 20”
77-5886 SEARS, girls 3- speed,
blue, 24”
77-5986 SCHWINN, boys,
10-speed, green, 27"
77-6251 WESTFIELD, girls
1-speed, blue & white, 26"
77-6356 MAKE UNKNOWN, boys
1- speed, black, 20”
77-6403
OFFICINE/MECCANICHE, 20"
77-6403
OFFICINE/MECCANICHE, boys
10- speed, white, 27"
77-6478 SUN TOUR, boys 10
speed, yellow, 27”
77-6506 SENTINEL, boys, blue
77-6531 SENATOR, boys 3
speed, green, 26
77-6562 PEUGEOT, girls 3
speed, white. 24'
77-6562 SCHWINN, boys 10
speed, brown, 27"
77-6562 VOLKSCYCLE. boys
10-speed, blue, 27"
77-6592 PENNEYS, boys 10
speed, red, 27"
77-6679 HUFFY, 10
speed, orange, 27"
77-6681 SCHWINN, boys 1
speed, blue, stingray
77-6834 RALEIGH, boys 3
speed, black & white, 26"
77-6838 RALEIGH, girls 3
speed, black, 25"
77-6873 HAWK, boys 10
speed, brown, 27"
77-6946 MOTOBECANE, boys
10-speed, blue, 27"
77-6951 ROYAL, boys 1
speed, yellow, 20"
There will be an auction of un
claimed bicycles May 7 at J & W
Towing Company 1526 W. 2nd at
10 a.m. The above list of bicycles
will not be included in the auction.
One Lot #2 Sleeping Bags
Regular prices to 30°°
Now Your Choice
1695
Franklin Blvd. Surplus & Outdoor Sales
1940 Franklin Bv 484-0203
Oregon Daily Emerald
1111
^ The EMU Cultural Forum presents
and
Joan
Armatrading
May 2
8:30 p.m.
Mac Court
Double -Tee
III'
Concerts
L/ V«/vJL4i L . S4.50 UO Students
$6 general & reserved
*•* d: EN'U Msr 0eSK 4 Evervbooy f Beco-as
A Double Tee event
Page 3