The Surface Plant for the Long-Term Flow Test

Following the ICFT, work began to complete the design and installation of a permanent surface plant for the Long-Term Flow Test (LTFT), which was planned as a realistic demonstration of the viability of HDR technology under conditions closely approximating those of a commercial HDR power facility. The major difference was that no power would be produced (the thermal energy brought to the surface during circulation would simply be wasted to the atmosphere). The decision not to produce power was based on the following considerations: