Optimal design of binary cycle power plants for water-dominated, medium-temperature geothermal fields

Abstract

Exploitation of lower temperature, water-dominated geothermal fields is analyzed, and a methodology for optimizing geothermal binary plants is discussed. The geothermal fluid inlet temperatures considered are in the 110-160 °C range, while the return temperature of the brine is assumed to be between 70 and 100 °C. The analysis shows that the brine specific

Environomic optimal configurations of geothermal energy conversion systems: Application to the future construction of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in Switzerland

“…Important aspects to be accounted for are the geothermal resources characteristics Franco and Vaccaro (2012), the design of the conversion cycle, which has to be optimized to maximize its efficiency Franco and Vaccaro (2012); Franco and Villani (2009); Hettiarachchi et al (2007), the choice of the working fluid for binary cycles Saleh et al (2007); Heberle and Brüggemann (2010); Guo et al (2011a,b), and the district heating parameters for CHP applications Guo et al (2011a,b). The thermodynamic performance is as well critical to ensure an efficient use of the resource, and it can be assessed using the exergy efficiency DiPippo (2004); Kanoglu and Dincer (2009);Coskun et al (2011);Ganjehsarabi et al (2011).…”

Predictability of properties of a fractured geothermal reservoir: the opportunities and limitations of an outcrop analogue study

“…, Franco and Villani 2009). Permeability values are typically at best restricted to a small number of existing wells close to the envisaged reservoir and not necessarily representative of larger volumes.…”

Design optimisation of an Australian EGS power plant using a natural draft dry cooling tower

“…While the majority of this exergy destruction is the unavoidable exergy loss through latent heat transfer required to condense the cycle fluid, a portion of this is attributed to the parasitic power consumption in the condenser. The parasitic power consumption in forced draft condensing systems can account for 10% to 12% of gross power, under ideal conditions, and as much as 40-50% for ambient temperatures approaching condensing temperature (Franco & Villani, 2009). Utilising an NDDCT instead of a forced draft cooling tower eliminates this source of parasitic power consumption.…”