Cleaning of geothermal steam simplified

Journal Article · Mon Dec 03 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Chem. Eng. News; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/cen-v057n049.p029· OSTI ID:6559688

Dagani, R; Makrides, A C; Harvey, W W

A. C. Makrides and W. W. Harvey of EIC Corp., working in cooperation with Pacific Gas and Electric Co., have developed a new process for removing hydrogen sulfide from geothermal steam. The EIC process, field-tested at a 5 Mw pilot plant at The Geysers, Calif., scrubs the 100,000 lb/hr of steam with a sulfuric acid solution of copper sulfate, which precipitates at least 95Vertical Bar3< of the hydrogen sulfide as an insoluble copper sulfide and which also removes ammonia, boron compounds, and rock dust. Since the scrubbing solution is at the same temperature and pressure as the steam, there is hardly any loss of thermal energy. The presently used hydrogen sulfide-removal procedure, developed by Pacific Gas, is effective but cumbersome and expensive.

• Research Organization: EIC Corp.
• OSTI ID: 6559688
• Journal Information: Chem. Eng. News; (United States), Journal Name: Chem. Eng. News; (United States) Vol. 57:49; ISSN CENEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150600* -- Geothermal Energy-- Environmental Aspects
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COPPER COMPOUNDS
COPPER SULFATES
DESULFURIZATION
FLUIDS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
NATURAL STEAM
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PILOT PLANTS
PRECIPITATION
REMOVAL
SCRUBBING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STEAM
SULFATES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS