Field tests of the biphase geothermal rotary-separator turbine

Conference · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Trans. - Geotherm. Resour. Counc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7097808

Cerini, D ^[1]; Hughes, E

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1. Biphase Energy Systems, Santa Monica, CA

An experimental Biphase Rotary-Separator Turbine (RST) was designed for moderate wellhead brine conditions. The 30-inch RST was fabricated, mounted in a trailer together with its controls and instrumentation, and tested under laboratory and field conditions. Electric-power production, clean-steam production, and brine repressurization for injection were measured at three different locations with various brine temperatures and compositions. The measured power output at design conditions was equivalent to the production of 25% more electricity per unit of brine than would be produced by an optimized single-stage flash power system operation at the same resource conditions. A full-size nozzle test rig was also field-tested to evaluate the critical performance parameter of nozzle efficiency operating on wellhead, high-salinity flows. Nozzle tests simplified the method of resource evaluation. Significant flexibility in handling the range of resource temperatures leads to a 54-inch wellhead-size RST suitable for use on a variety of geothermal resources or on a resource that changes with time.

• OSTI ID: 7097808
• Report Number(s): CONF-811015-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trans. - Geotherm. Resour. Counc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150801* -- Geothermal Power Plants-- Design & Operation
BRINES
DIFFUSERS
EFFICIENCY
FIELD TESTS
MACHINERY
NOZZLES
PERFORMANCE
ROTARY SEPARATOR TURBINES
STEAM QUALITY
TESTING
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY