Heat Balance and Optimum Flashing Pressures for the Fifth Unit of Cerro Prieto
- Key words
- Power Plant; Design; Power Generation; Mexico; Salton Trough; Cerro Prieto; Single Flash; Cycle Study; Design Optimization; Computer Model; Thermodynamics; IIE
- Location
- Cerro Prieto, Mexico
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1979
- Session
- Power plant design and operation; Single flash; Dual flash;
- Language
- English
Abstract
A computer program has been develop to calculate the heat balance and to optimize the electric generation both for one and two stages of flashing, for the fifth geothermal unit of Cerro Prieto, Mexico. The 3000 t/hr of separated brine from units 1 to 4, which as the present time are being rejected to waste, are to be utilized in a flash power cycle, in an optimum manner. Two alternatives were presented: (a) a single stage flash cycle with a maximum generation of 24 MW net and flash pressure of 30 psia and (b) dual stage flash cycle with maximum generation of 27.5 MW and corresponding pressures 30,62 psia. Although the thermodynamics maximum is obtained for much lower pressures, scaling would cause serious damages to the surface equipment.
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