Steam Wetness Measurement Using a Transversable Retractable Probe

Abstract

This paper describes a work conducted on the steam wetness diametral profile in a vertical pipe located at bottom of a B.O.C. separator from Cerro Prieto geothermal field using a transverseable, retractable impact types probe. For comparison purposes, this probe was installed very close to other actual multiple port, fixed non retractable probe used for current steam quality measurement. In both cases, wetness was calculated from steam sodium content measured by atomic absorption sepctrophotometrc technique. The results showed an annual disperse pattern flow with a well defined diamatral wetness profile with a minimum concentration on the pipe axis and growing toward the pipe walls. This profile was not symmetrical and for all testing runs, the fixed probe only detected the minimum pipe axis sodium concentration detected by this impact probe.