Working Fluid and Cycle Selection Criteria for Binary Geothermal Power Plant
- Key words
- Power Generation; Binary Cycle; Thermodynamics; Pressure; Enthalpy; Optimum
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1978
- Session
- Binary cycle power generation; Working fluids; Hydrocarbons
- Language
- English
Abstract
Binary cycles using refrigerants as working fluids are an effective means of developing geothermal resources for power production. In order to maximize the utilization of the geothermal fluid resource over a temperature range from 220° to 400°F (104° to 204°C), a study was performed to optimize a 50 MW plant design with respect to working fluid and thermodynamic cycle. Results indicated that, of the four fluids studies, propane is optimum for geothermal fluid temperatures of 200° to 280°F (93° to 138°C). For a temperature range of 300° to 360°F (149° to 182°C), isobutane performed best, and for temperatures of 380° to 400°F (193° to 204°C), pentane was most effective.
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