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Zeotropic mixtures of halocarbons as working fluids in binary geothermal power generation cycles

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5914218
The performance of Rankine cycle binary systems for geothermal power generation using a hydrothermal resource has been investigated. To date, in addition to many pure fluids, mixtures of Paraffin-type hydrocarbons and water-ammonia mixtures have been investigated. This paper gives the results of consideration of mixtures of halocarbons as working fluids in these power cycles. The performance of mixtures of Refrigerant-114 (R-114) and Refrigerant-22 (R-22) in combinations from pure R-114 to pure R-22 was calculated for such cycles. Various alternatives were considered: (1) minimum geofluid outlet temperature constraint/no constraint, (2) dry turbine expansion/expansion through vapor dome, and (3) use of turbine exhaust gas recuperator/no recuperator. Results of the study indicate that the halocarbon mixtures are at least as good as the hydrocarbon mixtures previously analyzed for a 360 F resource. The magnitude of the net geofluid effectiveness (net energy produced per unit mass geofluid flow) for the R-114/R-22 mixtures is the same as for the best hydrocarbon mixture previously analyzed. The percentage improvement in effectiveness in using mixtures over using the pure fluids as working fluids is comparable for both classes of working fluids.
Research Organization:
EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-76ID01570
OSTI ID:
5914218
Report Number(s):
EGG-M-38486; CONF-870804-45; ON: DE88001531
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English