Study of practical cycles for geothermal power plants. Interim report, June 15, 1975-March 31, 1976

Technical Report · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5814481· OSTI ID:5814481

Eskesen, J H

The preliminary analysis is described in a study of practical cycles for geothermal power plants. The analysis is based on three different brines whose temperatures and composition span the range that is of practical interest for power generation. Only two kinds of cycles were considered in the analysis - the steam turbine cycle and the binary cycle, in which energy from the geothermal fluid is transferred to a secondary working fluid in a closed Rankine cycle. The performance of several condidate working fluids has been investigated, and the most attracive binary cycles have been selected for the various resource conditions. The results show that if brine is utilized directly in the primary heat exchange process with the secondary working fluid, the binary cycle is potentially better in terms of resource utilization than a dual flash steam turbine cycle. However, if the brine is flashed to steam and the steam is used for the heat exchange process, the steam turbine cycle will produce more power per pound of brine flow. Preliminary turbine designs have been formulated for steam and also for the most promising working fluids in the secondary or binary cycle. For all cycle configurations at least 50 MW of electrical power can be generated by a single unit without exceeding mechanical design or manufacturing limitations even when the resource temperature is as low as 400/sup 0/F. Plant economics were not considered.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY (USA). Research and Development Center
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-02-2619
• OSTI ID: 5814481
• Report Number(s): SRD-76-040
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
BINARY-FLUID SYSTEMS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FLASHED STEAM SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
WORKING FLUIDS
PERFORMANCE
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
2-METHYLBUTANE
2-METHYLPROPANE
AMMONIA
BRINES
BUTANE
DESIGN
EQUATIONS OF STATE
FREONS
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
PENTANE
PROPANE
PROPYLENE
TURBINES
ALKANES
ALKENES
CONVERSION
ENERGY CONVERSION
EQUATIONS
FLUIDS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDRIDES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MACHINERY
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWER PLANTS
REFRIGERANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TURBOMACHINERY
Geothermal Legacy
150802* - Geothermal Power Plants- Power Plant Systems & Components