Evolution of high-temperature geothermal brine production pumps

Conference · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6981510

Ellis, II, P F ^[1]

---

1. Radian Corp., Austin, TX (US)

Geothermal resources with temperatures between 250{degrees} and 360{degrees}F (121{degrees} and 182{degrees}C) are prime candidates for binary-cycle power generation in the United States and abroad, and constitute about 80% of the known power-capable resources in the United States. Initially there were many technological obstacles to exploitation of these resources, with one of the greatest being the absence of reliable high-capacity downwell brine production pumps to supply the required amounts of brine from an economically small group of wells. Early experience revealed many problems with downwell pumps, resulting in a mean-time-to-failure (MTTF) in 1981 of less than 1000 hours for the best available technology. This paper reports how evolutionary advances in pump design and materials selection have resolved most of the early problems, producing third- generation pumps which have run as long as 20,000 hours. Pump life extension practices - greatly enhanced component and assembly quality control, increased care in pump installation, and continuous monitoring of pump performance with swift intervention at the first signs of distress - have essentially eliminated premature failure where implemented, leading to estimated near-term MTTFs of 8000 hours.

• OSTI ID: 6981510
• Report Number(s): CONF-890437-
• Resource Relation: Conference: Corrosion '89, New Orleans, LA (USA), 17-21 Apr 1989; Other Information: Technical Paper 89534
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
BRINES
GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS
DESIGN
HIGH TEMPERATURE
MATERIALS TESTING
PERFORMANCE
QUALITY CONTROL
USA
CONTROL
HEAT PUMPS
NORTH AMERICA
POWER PLANTS
TESTING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
150802* - Geothermal Power Plants- Power Plant Systems & Components
150100 - Geothermal Energy- Resources & Availability
150901 - Geothermal Engineering- Drilling Technology & Well Hardware