Scaling Tests on a Salton Sea Geothermal Brine
As part of the Penn State scaling project sponsored by the U. S. Bureau of Mines, we designed a field test to determine scaling rates from homogeneous geothermal fluids. This technique has been used on the concentrated brines of the Salton Sea K.G.R.A. The principle adopted for the test was to cool the brine abruptly to a controlled temperature and then to maintain flow until sufficient scale was deposited to determine scale composition and amount deposited along the flow path. The resulting easily acquired data show the dependence on temperature decrement and distance, of the amount and composition of scale that is likely to form during geothermal development of a well. These data apply to a fluid of fixed initial composition being cooled, either before or after, but not during flashing. The kinetics of flashing, where volatile components are partially removed, may be significantly different both in rates and in composition of resulting scale. Further experiments have been designed to determine the effects of flashing on the kinetics of scale formation. 3 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 887389
- Report Number(s):
- SGP-TR-20-24
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Corrosion in geothermal brines of the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area
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