Power Plant Operating Alternatives for Improving and Extending Reservoir Performance at The Geysers
- Key words
- Power Generation; USA; California; Sonoma; The Geysers; Output Reduction; Inlet Pressure Reduction; Dry Cooling; Decline Rates; Load Following; Peaking; Turbine Steam Rates; Non Condensable Gases; Injection; Computer Model
- Location
- The Geysers, California
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 1989
- Session
- Reservoir management; Injection; Power plant design and oper
- Language
- English
Abstract
As a result of the higher than anticipated steam production decline rates experience by Northern California Power Agency at the Geysers, NCPA instituted a feasibility study of the power plant alternatives for improving and extending reservoir performance. The study found that the most attractive alternatives for extending the geothermal projects' performance were: 1) modification of the operation of the power plants to reduce average annual output while maintaining the ability to peak at full load 2) reduction of plant inlet pressure by modifying gas ejector nozzle size and changing to a control valve wide open operation and 3) increase the amount of condensate available for reinjection with a dry cooling system. However, due to the high capital costs associated with dry cooling, additional reservoir and energy price studies are needed to better quantify the benefit of water injection.
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