Method of and apparatus for retrofitting geothermal power plants
US4996846A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 1990 |
| Grant date | Mar 5, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/10
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An existing geothermal power plant, utilizing geothermal steam from a production well in a geothermal field to drive a multi-stage steam turbine when the available steam pressure from the production well for rated mass for steam through the turbine is less than the design pressure of the turbine, is retrofitted by increasing the mass flow of steam from the production well by an incremental amount. Substantially all of the incremental amount of steam is diverted to an organic fluid Rankine cycle power plant for converting heat in the diverted steam to power and producing waste fluid in the form of steam condensate and non-condensable gases. The waste fluid is injected into a reinjection well in the geothermal field. Preferably, the non-diverted portion of steam is applied to the steam turbine and an intermediate stage of the turbine where the design pressure of the stage matches the steam pressure of the applied steam.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.