| Title | GeoEjector: Extracting geothermal fluid from a low-pressure geothermal well |
|---|---|
| Authors | M. Gudjonsdottir, J. Andal, X.G. Muguruza, R. Larusson, E. Juliusson, H. Einarsson, Y.A. Tesfahunegn, K. Sveinsson, G. Saevarsdottir |
| Year | 2023 |
| Conference | New Zealand Geothermal Workshop |
| Keywords | Ejector, Geothermal energy, Power generation, CFD, Well productivity |
| Abstract | In the GeoEjector project, we investigate the potential to connect a low-pressure geothermal well to a nearby highpressure well with an ejector system. The aim is to induce flow from the low-pressure well which cannot sustain high enough pressure for the operating conditions of thegeothermal plant. A rudimentary ejector was tested in Theistareykir Geothermal Power Plant in Iceland in 2021. The results were promising, as the measurements showed entrained flow from the low-pressure well and subsequently increased fluid pressure up to 0.55 bar as it mixed with the stream coming from the high-pressure well. However, it was found that the existing design of the ejector cannot handle the real operating conditions of the wells for the plant, where higher back pressure is required. To address this challenge, an improved ejector design has been made and is planned to be tested in 2023. Also, a down-scaled laboratory ejector is being set up to collect measurements of combined low- and high-pressure water and steam flows. We have used an analytical model to improve the ejector's design and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models to simulate its flow. This paper will introduce this project and show the preliminary results. |