Field tests of a vertical-fluted-tube condenser in the prototype power plant at the Raft River Geothermal Test Site

Technical Report · Fri Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6272990· OSTI ID:6272990

Murphy, R W

A vertical-fluted-tube condenser was designed, fabricated, and tested with isobutane as the shell-side working fluid in a binary prototype power plant at the Raft River Geothermal Test Site. After shakedown and contamination removal operations were completed, the four-pass water-cooled unit (with 102 outside-fluted Admiralty tubes) achieved performance predictions while operating with the plant surface evaporator on-line. A sample comparison shows that use of this enhanced condenser concept offers the potential for a reduction of about 65% from the size suggested by corresponding designs using conventional horizontal-smooth-tube concepts. Subsequent substitution of a direct-contact evaporator for the surface evaporator brought drastic reductions in system performance, the apparent consequence of high concentrations of noncondensible gases introduced by the brine/working-fluid interaction.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6272990
• Report Number(s): ORNL-5940; ON: DE83012524
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
CONDENSERS
FIELD TESTS
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
RAFT RIVER VALLEY
DEMONSTRATION PLANTS
DESIGN
DIRECT CONTACT HEAT EXCHANGERS
FABRICATION
INSTALLATION
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
FEDERAL REGION X
HEAT EXCHANGERS
IDAHO
NORTH AMERICA
POWER PLANTS
TESTING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
USA
Geothermal Legacy
150802* - Geothermal Power Plants- Power Plant Systems & Components