Geothermal Rotary Separator Field Tests

Abstract

The application of a two phase rotary separator for geothermal energy conversion was demonstrated. Laboratory tests were conducted with clean water and steam at Biphase Energy Systems, Santa Monica, California. Field tests were conducted at a Union Oil Co, wellsite near Brawley, California. The system tested consisted of the major components of a total flow rotary separator/turbine conversion system. A nozzle converted the brine wellhead enthalpy to two phase slow kinetic energy by impinging the nozzle flow tangentially on the inside of the separator. The flow was then subjected to the high centrifugal force field by the rotary separator. The liquid phase collected as a film on the separator drum with very little energy loss due to low relative velocities. the separated steam was allowed to flow radically inward to the central steam discharge. Potable water was obtained by condensing the steam. The brine collection system converted the liquid film kinetic energy to static pressure head. The system was operated for 117 hours in a high salinity environment. the system operated properly with o adverse effect from solids precipitation or scale buildup. The rotary separator produced separate flows of pure liquid and steam of greater than 99.5% quality.