Heating Facilities: Indian Valley Hospital, Greenville, California

摘要

Indian Valley Hospital is a 36 bed publicly-owned rural hospital. Adjacent to the hospital is a hot spring that is utilized by a commercial spa. Slightly further east is a agricultural well that produces 450 GPM of 85 exp 0 F water. The hospital is a single story building of concrete construction with a total floor area of about 11,000 square feet. Existing heating is by electric resistance wire beneath the flooring. Domestic hot water is furnished by propane fired heaters, with some temperature boost from electric water heaters. Portions of the electric resistance system have failed, and failure of the remaining portion is probable. It is economically feasible to heat Indian Valley Hospital using a water to water heat pump. Low temperature geothermal water from a relatively shallow well will furnish the heat source for the heat pump which will produce a 140 exp 0 F circulating hot water stream. This hot water will supply the space heating needs and the bulk of the domestic hot water. The production and injection wells, a heat pump, and natural draft convectors are the major components of the system. Estimated capital cost is $120,000. Propane purchases will be eliminated, and annual electrical purchases reduced from about 360,000 KWH to about 164,000 KWH. This results in a savings at the start of the first year of $12,476. This savings, less operating costs, when applied with escalation considerations over a period of twenty years, will result in a rate of return on the $120,000 investment of 13.4%. If the project is financed with 8% bonds, a $201,354 surplus will accumulate over the 20 years after debt service and bond retirement. (ERA citation 06:009099)