This article was published in Hantke’s Letters on Brewing in 1902
The Utilization of the Interior Heat of the Earth
The recent idea of two American scientists to make practical use of the interior heat of the earth has attracted attention not only in the United States, but also in foreign countries and has been very much criticized. Although the plan may seem at present to be fantastic and impracticable, it is interesting to know the details given out by the two scientists, Professor Hallock of Columbia University, New York City, and an official of the Geological Institute.
It is a well-known fact that heat increases with the depth, about one degree for every 60 to 70 feet. Recently a hole was bored near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 9720 feet deep and the temperature at the bottom was great enough to convert water into steam. The geologist mentioned then brought up the question if it were not possible to derive a benefit from this natural heating of the water, if it could be brought to the surface quickly enough. Professor Hallock took up and elaborated this idea. He intends to bore two holes close together, each 10,000 feet deep, and by means of a blast connect the two at the bottom. He thinks that if cold water is poured into one hole, it would be converted into steam at the bottom and by the pressure of the water forced out through the other, partly as steam and partly as hot water. He figures that the steam from a hole 10,000 feet deep would reach the surface with a pressure of at least 5,000 pounds per square inch. Professor Hallock further adds: “Less than 20 years ago the mere idea of boring a hole 10,000 feet deep would have seemed preposterous. If it is possible now to build shafts 6,000 feet deep, it certainly ought to be possible to get to a depth of 10,000 or 12,000 feet. (The deepest hole that has ever been bored is near Paruschowitz in Upper Silesia and is 6,973 feet deep.) With a steam pipe 5 inches in diameter and a pressure of 5,000 pounds per square inch, that is over 125,000 pounds, enough steam would be obtained to make 100,000 dollars yearly. Another advantage would be that this source of power would be independent of competition and price of coal. A company with sufficient capital could install such a plant anywhere, and have a regular, never-ending source of power, which would also not suffer from floods, fires and stopping of work. The danger from fire would be very much decreased, as all buildings could be heated with the steam and hot water and lighted with electricity.
– Note. – If course this idea at present does not seem at all feasible and it will probably be a long time before it can be practically used, but on account of the great progress that is being made in all branches of science, we must not look at such schemes as entirely out of the question, and it is not impossible that the brewer may someday get his steam and power as described above. The borings would probably be very expensive, but after the plant is once installed, its operation would be comparatively cheap.
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