Direct contact, binary fluid geothermal boiler
Abstract
Energy is extracted from geothermal brines by direct contact with a working fluid such as isobutane which is immiscible with the brine in a geothermal boiler. The geothermal boiler provides a distributor arrangement which efficiently contacts geothermal brine with the isobutane in order to prevent the entrainment of geothermal brine in the isobutane vapor which is directed to a turbine. Accordingly the problem of brine carryover through the turbine causing corrosion and scaling thereof is eliminated. Additionally the heat exchanger includes straightening vanes for preventing startup and other temporary fluctuations in the transitional zone of the boiler from causing brine carryover into the turbine. Also a screen is provided in the heat exchanger to coalesce the working fluid and to assist in defining the location of the transitional zone where the geothermal brine and the isobutane are initially mixed.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5197262
- Assignee:
- TIC; ERA-05-034810; EDB-80-105748
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; BINARY-FLUID SYSTEMS; DIRECT CONTACT HEAT EXCHANGERS; DESIGN; 2-METHYLPROPANE; BRINES; CORROSION; GEOTHERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION; HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS; SCALING; TURBINES; VAPORS; ALKANES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; CONVERSION; ENERGY CONVERSION; FLUIDS; GASES; HEAT EXCHANGERS; HYDROCARBONS; MACHINERY; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; TURBOMACHINERY; 150802* - Geothermal Power Plants- Power Plant Systems & Components
Citation Formats
Rapier, P M. Direct contact, binary fluid geothermal boiler. United States: N. p., 1979.
Web.
Rapier, P M. Direct contact, binary fluid geothermal boiler. United States.
Rapier, P M. Thu .
"Direct contact, binary fluid geothermal boiler". United States.
@article{osti_5197262,
title = {Direct contact, binary fluid geothermal boiler},
author = {Rapier, P M},
abstractNote = {Energy is extracted from geothermal brines by direct contact with a working fluid such as isobutane which is immiscible with the brine in a geothermal boiler. The geothermal boiler provides a distributor arrangement which efficiently contacts geothermal brine with the isobutane in order to prevent the entrainment of geothermal brine in the isobutane vapor which is directed to a turbine. Accordingly the problem of brine carryover through the turbine causing corrosion and scaling thereof is eliminated. Additionally the heat exchanger includes straightening vanes for preventing startup and other temporary fluctuations in the transitional zone of the boiler from causing brine carryover into the turbine. Also a screen is provided in the heat exchanger to coalesce the working fluid and to assist in defining the location of the transitional zone where the geothermal brine and the isobutane are initially mixed.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1979},
month = {12}
}