ONION DEHYDRATION WITH GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN THE USA John W. Lund Andrew Chiasson, Toni Boyd Geo-Heat Center Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls, OR, USA

PROCESSING Creoloe, Southport Globe and Hybrid Southport types used Creoloe, Southport Globe and Hybrid Southport types used White in color and process a higher solid content which yields a more flavorful and pungent onion White in color and process a higher solid content which yields a more flavorful and pungent onion Continuous belt conveyor used Continuous belt conveyor used Proctor & Schwartz dehydrator single line Proctor & Schwartz dehydrator single line Special silica gel – Bryair desiccation often used for the final drying Special silica gel – Bryair desiccation often used for the final drying $1,500,000/yr in fuel used (180 days) $1,500,000/yr in fuel used (180 days) Geothermal saves 116 million cubic feet of NG Geothermal saves 116 million cubic feet of NG

Basic dehydration operation

PROCESSING 2 Dehydration – basic steps Dehydration – basic steps –Harvesting –Transporting –Curing o F heated air used – ease of peeling and processing – 48 to 72 hours –Washing and chlorinated to reduce bacteria –Slicing –Dehydration – in 3 to 4 stages – high air volumes –Milling (powdered, granulated, ground, minced, chopped or sliced) –Packaging

AGRICULTURAL DRYING 1 Two large geothermal onion and garlic dehydrators are located in NW Nevada Two large geothermal onion and garlic dehydrators are located in NW Nevada These units can each process tons of wet onions/hr – drying them from 83% to 4% moisture (output = 0.9 – 1.2 tons/hr dried product) These units can each process tons of wet onions/hr – drying them from 83% to 4% moisture (output = 0.9 – 1.2 tons/hr dried product) 0.15 therms/lb used = 500 million Btu/day or 76 billion Btu/yr (22 GWh) (150 days period) 0.15 therms/lb used = 500 million Btu/day or 76 billion Btu/yr (22 GWh) (150 days period) Product used in soups, baked goods, salt, & seasoning as powders to slices Product used in soups, baked goods, salt, & seasoning as powders to slices

AGRICULTURAL DRYING 2 Single-line, continuous-belt dryer use Single-line, continuous-belt dryer use –12.5 ft wide –190 to 212 ft. long –3 to 4 sections (A to D) –210 to 120 o –3 to 4 sections (A to D) –210 to 120 o F –Processing 5 to 7 tons/hr of wet onions –Using 86,500 ft 3 /hr of air –26 million Btu/hr –Onions 2 inches to 6 feet deep –Bryair desiccation unit required in final stage

AGRICULTURAL DRYING 3 Brady’s Hot Spring plant – first in U.S Brady’s Hot Spring plant – first in U.S –270 o F geothermal fluid –Only has 3 stages (A thru C) –6-months operation season - 65 employees –25,000 tons of wet onions are processed during season – producing 5,000 tons of dry product –190-ft. long dryer by 12.5 ft. wide –Uses 190 to 120 o F air in various stages –Has also processed celery and carrots to extend season –Product trucked from S. California to S. Oregon (300 to 600 miles)

AGRICULTURAL DRYING 4 Empire Foods plant – constructed 1994 Empire Foods plant – constructed 1994 Capacity Capacity –37 tons/day onions; 42.5 tons/day garlic –7 tons/yr (60% onions and 40% garlic) 900 gpm of geothermal 266 o F 900 gpm of geothermal 266 o F 45 million Btu/hr – discharge at 160 o F 45 million Btu/hr – discharge at 160 o F Cold storage warehouse allows year-round operation – 2 nd line being considered Cold storage warehouse allows year-round operation – 2 nd line being considered Geothermal energy also used for four ORMAT 1.5-MWe binary units – net output 3.6 MWe Geothermal energy also used for four ORMAT 1.5-MWe binary units – net output 3.6 MWe Now shut down due to garlic imports from China Now shut down due to garlic imports from China

Empire 6.0 MWe binary plants (3.6 MWe net)

CONCLUSIONS 1 A survey in the U.S. found that of 108 industrial processes surveyed (representing 80% of U.S. industrial energy usage), 97% of all processes required heat input in the form of steam at 250 o F or higher. A survey in the U.S. found that of 108 industrial processes surveyed (representing 80% of U.S. industrial energy usage), 97% of all processes required heat input in the form of steam at 250 o F or higher. An examination of geothermal wells in 8 western U.S. states reveals that 99% are 250 o F or less. An examination of geothermal wells in 8 western U.S. states reveals that 99% are 250 o F or less. High load factor important (0.44 to 0.68 in 2000) High load factor important (0.44 to 0.68 in 2000) Wells above 250 o F would normally be used for electric power generation, however ---- Wells above 250 o F would normally be used for electric power generation, however ---- * source: K. Rafferty, GHC Bulletin Vol. 24, No. 3 (Sept., 2003)

CONCLUSION 2 Consider: Power plant vs dehydration plant Consider: Power plant vs dehydration plant Assumptions Assumptions –300 o F resource –20 MW net binary power plant –US$0.07 per kWh power sales price –10-month dehydration operation –15,000 tons annual production (2 lines) –US$1.00/lb dried product wholesale price

CONCLUSIONS 3 Power plant vs dehydration plant Power plant vs dehydration plant PowerDehydration plant plant plant plant Capital Expenditure$50 mill. $15 mill. Gross Revenue$11 mill. $30 mill. Resource require. 12,000 gpm 1,200 gpm Employees * source: D. Mendive, Geothermal Development Assoc., Reno, NV

RESOURCE EVALUATION Initial search of data base Initial search of data base –Ontario, Lancaster, Vale, Nyssa, Harper and Adrain –42 by 36 mile area –9 springs –270 wells identified –68 to 239 –68 to 239 o F – high temp. at Vale – –Most below 200 o F – –One “dry well” – 10,052 ft at 334 o F - Ontario

PROPOSED SCOPE OF WORK 1. Determine source and market of product 2. Estimate size of development 3. Determine temperature and flow rate needed 4. Review literature and determine resource available to meet requirements 5. Recommend site(s) for resource (well) 6. Perform economic analysis 7. Make recommendation(s) 8. Write final report

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