| Title | Field-Based Material Test Rig for Geothermal Orc Plant Components |
|---|---|
| Authors | H. Heinzel, B. Habib, M. Karpenko |
| Year | 2016 |
| Conference | New Zealand Geothermal Workshop |
| Keywords | Material testing, Corrosion, Fouling, Binary, Organic Rankine Cycle |
| Abstract | Scaling, also known as fouling, and corrosion are serious problems in geothermal applications. In a binary plant, the components most affected by these phenomena are the primary heat exchangers or evaporators which are in direct contact with the geothermal fluid on the one side and the binary fluid on the other side. The build-up of scale leads to a reduction in heat exchanger efficiency while corrosion results in a reduced equipment lifetime. The extent of scaling and corrosion is a function of the chemical composition of the brine, the process conditions and the selected material. Test results obtained under idealized conditions in laboratory set-ups are not always a true indicator for the performance of the material under operational conditions and need to be verified by field based testing. The NZ Heavy Engineering Research Association (HERA) is engaged in a research project related to power generation from low enthalpy heat sources (AGGAT). As a part of the research a field-based material test rig (MTR) has been developed in cooperation with partners from academia and industry. As of writing this paper, the test rig was in the last stages of fabrication by one of the industry partners. This paper gives an overview of the features of the MTR and the latest developments regarding the rig.Scaling, also known as fouling, and corrosion are serious problems in geothermal applications. In a binary plant, the components most affected by these phenomena are the primary heat exchangers or evaporators which are in direct contact with the geothermal fluid on the one side and the binary fluid on the other side. The build-up of scale leads to a reduction in heat exchanger efficiency while corrosion results in a reduced equipment lifetime. The extent of scaling and corrosion is a function of the chemical composition of the brine, the process conditions and the selected material. Test results obtained under idealized conditions in laboratory set-ups are not always a true indicator for the performance of the material under operational conditions and need to be verified by field based testing. The NZ Heavy Engineering Research Association (HERA) is engaged in a research project related to power generation from low enthalpy heat sources (AGGAT). As a part of the research a field-based material test rig (MTR) has been developed in cooperation with partners from academia and industry. As of writing this paper, the test rig was in the last stages of fabrication by one of the industry partners. This paper gives an overview of the features of the MTR and the latest developments regarding the rig. |