Geothermal energy integration for healthcare diagnostic imaging centers

¶ … Thermal Conversion

GECP TEAM MEMBERS

(Team Leader)

(GeoEnergy Coordinator)

(Project Site Director)

(Technology Integration)

GeoEnergy Conversion Project (GECP):

Digital Imaging Health Integration

Diagnostic Imaging Centers offer a new step into the future of healthcare, bringing sophisticated technology, monitoring and computer capabilities to hospitals and other patient support businesses. Personalized GECP initiative facilitates use of stand-along sustainable power sources to augment existing (carbon) options. Proprietary elements allow for maximum cost savings, full integration with geothermal options of various kinds, and demonstrate measurable health advantages. Project accomplishment advances sector for use of integrated energy options for emerging digital imaging and diagnostic centers within various operational structures.

Step 1: Describe the Problem'Geothermal' literally means 'Earth's heat, which is estimated to be 5,500 degrees centigrade at the Earth's core -- about as hot as the surface of the sun. Geothermal energy is a clean, renewable resource that can be tapped by many countries around the world located in geologically favorable places. Geothermal energy can be harnessed from underground reservoirs, containing hot rocks saturated with water and/or steam. Boreholes of typically two kilometers depth or more are drilled into the reservoirs. The hot water and steam are then piped up to a geothermal power plant, where they are used to drive electric generators to create power for businesses and homes. Geothermal energy is considered a renewable resource because it exploits the Earth's interior heat, which is considered abundant, and water, once used and cooled, is then piped back to the reservoir.

PROBLEM STATEMENT: More people worry about the cost and health implications of energy derived from limited (usually carbon) supply choices. As such, we most often have to rely on public power even if the generation of that power presents other health or environmental concerns. At the same time, healthcare-based digital imaging processes are becoming more sophisticated, and demanding of greater energy consumptions.

CLIENT APPEAL: Your business was identified as being a major digital imaging company that is capable of adapting to the structural and operational changes needed for adding your own geo-based (geothermal) energy access systems. Studies have shown that energy consumption for health care is second only to the demands of food service, though this could chance as digital imaging equipment becomes more popular and requires more stable and more directed energy control systems to protect the flow of information, to secure data and to connect with business partners. (Comprehensive review of hospital energy issues in http://practicegreenhealth.org/topics/energy-water-and-climate/energy.) Our team has confirmed that we can personalize and install our GeoEnergy Conversion Package (GECP) to address the needs and your concerns associated with the health risks of carbon-generated energy.

REFERENCE:

Quote Taken From: Think GeoEnergy (n.d.), para 2. Retrieved from http://thinkgeoenergy.com/geothermal.

Step 2: Describe the Current Process

Most digital imaging systems are incorporated into the electrical and operational systems of larger healthcare facilities. Your systems do this and meet general and hospital energy wiring and emergency operational code expectations. This means that you have isolated your energy input as a controllable branch off of the main supply, which allows for minimizing the impact of emergency shutdowns or low supply situations. The NEC code (see accompanying chart) identifies the priority areas and the recommended strategy for this purpose. Your system also has dedicated power distribution backups to ensure short- and long-term disruption, using industry standard generators that themselves rely on carbon fuels. As in most instances, the manufacturers acknowledge a 90% or greater success rate. This allows the system in place to conform with NEC voltage drop allowances as set for traditional equipment and mainstay computer hardware requirements.

In general your system conforms to the flow pattern identified here:

- Priority Equipment Separation

Main Energy Input - Facilities Distribution Node - |

- Gen. Operational Needs Per NEC 517

National Electric Code 517

Life Safety -- Ensures necessary life-saving needs.

Critical Care -- Prioritizes emergency, intensive and other care services.

Equipment -- Otherwise defers to equipment based on load-bearing. No modifications made for source of energy or special requirements of advancing digital equipment at this time.

Chart adapted from text of: Leonidas, T (2008), Digital Imaging and the future: Planning a flexible infrastructure. Medical Construction and Design, Nov./Dec., p 23.

16 million tons

Table Adapted from: Kagel, A, Bates, D., and Gawell, K., (2007). A Guide to Geothermal Energy and the Environment, Geothermal Energy Association, Wash., D.C., p ii.

Step 4: Develop Solution and Action Plan 1 Graphic from http://www.geoenergyusa.com

The GECP (GeoElectric Conversion Package) that we stylized for your needs is unique for your business and facilities and was designed "power up" on geothermal alternatives to the maximum degree possible. It involves a modification of a standard Binary Cycle Power Plant that can be independently wired directly to the imaging components in your facility. (For details on overview of Binary options, see http://www.geoenergyusa.com/column.htm.) Then, using our proprietary integration software and hardware junctures, we enable your IT capabilities to constantly assess real and anticipated power demands and then direct geothermal availability accordingly. As other sustainable and stand-alone (solar) platforms are readied, they too will be integratable into the GECP, thus further growing your cost savings, brand integration and health returns.

Step 5: Implement the Solution (or steps to implement)

Action Item

Key Contact Person

Requirements

Est. Due Date

Complete Purchase

CEOs / Proj. Mgrs Binary specs, costs

2 mos.

Finalize Geo Site

Proj Mgrs/GECP

Ground prep.

1 mos.

Prepare Site

Construct Coord.

Building prep.

4 mons.

Prepare Build Elect.

Electrical Coord.

Wiring prep.

4 mons.

Tech. Integration GECP/IT prof.

Hard/Software uses

6 mons.

Final Test Confirm

GECP/CEOs

Achieve Benchmarks

6 mons.

Step 6: Review and Evaluate the Results of the Change (or expected results of the change)

SWOT Analysis (Client)

STRENGTHS (Internal)

Willingness to Change

Land Available

Progressive Tech Plan

WEAKNESSES

Land use permits

Unexpected land prep

Partial aging facilities

OPPORTUNITIES (External)

Company perceived as cutting edge

Strong environmental health commitment

Willingness to change

Available funding and financial support

Positive community reputation

THREATS

Unknown water and ground factors

Political opposition to change

Use of new product for desired purposes

Uncertain economic future

CHANGE OUTCOMES:

The PracticeGreenHealth (http://practicegreenhealth.org/topics/energy-water-and-climate/energy) site is exceptional resource for understanding the many benefits available to hospitals and medical institutions seeking sustainable options. our geoenergy integration supplements this in many ways:

30% to 40% increased energy efficiency

Verifiable reduction in contribution to air/land quality issues

Agency brand enhancement -- recognition as leader

Preparation for future growth in sustainable opportunities

Step 7: Reflect and Act on Learning's (Summary / Recommendations / Each individual should have a 1 paragraph reflection on the learning -- all included in the same paper)

GECP Summary/Recommendations (for consultant and client): Good indicators of successful use of new application on site. Opportunity to investigate new hardware/software and site integration.

Team Leader: Learned about the viability of geoenergy opportunities and importance in health services. Able to coordinate good team participation.

Participant 2: Lead research on geoenergy potential and emerging trends. Able to prepare GECP for future needs and client expectations.

Participant 3: Lead research on site details, needs, requirements and preparations for successful project application. Developed and refined project checklist and progress highlights tool.

Participant 4: Expanded GECP's applicability to new geothermal equipment and emerging digital imaging hardware/software. Developed standards for future digital integration.