Supercritical binary geothermal cycle experiments with mixed-hydrocarbon working fluids and a vertical, in-tube, counterflow condenser

Technical Report · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6053602· OSTI ID:6053602

Demuth, O J; Bliem, C J; Mines, G L; Swank, W D

The objective is improved utilization of moderate temperature geothermal resources. Current testing involves supercritical vaporization and counterflow in-tube condensing in an organic Rankine cycle. This report presents a description of the test facility and results from a part of the program in which the condenser was oriented in a vertical attitude. Results of the experiments for the supercritical heaters and the countercurrent, vertical, in-tube condenser are given for both pure and mixed-hydrocarbon working fluids. The heater and condenser behavior predicted by the Heat Transfer Research, Inc. computer codes used for correlation of the data was in excellent agreement with experimental results. A special series of tests, conducted with propane and up to approximately 40% isopentane concentration, indicated that a close approach to ''integral'' condensation was occurring in the vertically-oriented condenser.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 6053602
• Report Number(s): EGG-EP-7076; ON: DE86009105
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
BINARY-FLUID SYSTEMS
CONDENSERS
DATA
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
Geothermal Legacy
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORIENTATION
RANKINE CYCLE
TEST FACILITIES
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
VAPOR CONDENSERS
WORKING FLUIDS