| Abstract |
The Miravalles Geothermal Field has been producing electric energy since March 1994. It has provided steam for Unit 1 (55 MWe) since 1994, a Wellhead Unit (5 MWe) installed in 1995, Unit 2 (55 MWe) in 1998, Unit 3 (29 MWe) in 2000 and Unit 5 (19 MWe, a binary plant) in year 2004. The total installed capacity (163 MWe) has been increasing since 1994 as well as the non-condensable gases in the steam. With these increments, the plants have reached their maximum non-condensable extraction capacity without ejectors, and therefore, options to increase the extraction capacities have been analyzed. Field management strategies and policies have been implemented in order to minimize the total amount of non-condensable gases that are sent to the generation units. |