Dry Steam
Scrubbing for Impurity Removal from Geothermal Steam
Paul Hirtz
02-13
EISG Project
Title: Dry Steam Scrubbing for
Impurity Removal from Geothermal Steam
EISG Grant Number: 02-13
PIER Area: Renewable Energy Research
Principal Investigator: Paul Hirtz
Contact Information: Phone:
(707) 575-1310, email:
Ph_TCI@compuserve.com
Organization: Thermochem, Inc.
Grant Amount: $74,940
Grant Term: 12 Months
Project Description:
Proposes to research the feasibility of developing a steam scrubbing technology that effectively removes and/or treats corrosive hydrogen chloride (HCl) in geothermal steam without superheat quenching or steam condensation so that the maximum amount of mass and energy can be retained for power generation.
Proposed Outcomes:
§ An existing pilot-plant facility for use in testing will be upgraded. This will involve design of bed configurations, a new containment vessel, water wash regeneration system, corrosion monitoring system, plus fabrication and installation of new equipment. An optimized calcite bed configuration will be developed.
Anticipated Benefits:
§ Potential to produce total heat savings of 40 Btu/lb steam, equal to 4.7 MW of gross heat energy or about 1.5 MW electrical power for a 20 MW plant.
§ Potential to provide a 3% to 5% improvement in geothermal generation efficiency.