Model Development of Silica Scaling Prediction on Brine Flow Pipe

Abstract

Silica scaling is one of problems in the geothermal fields, where its deposition can occur in some geothermal power plant equipment such as pipe surface to the injection wells. Deposition of amorphous silica causes blockage in pipes that drain off the geothermal fluids, for example as happened in the pipes that drain off brine fluid from separator. Problems in the injection pipeline will disrupt the brine fluid to be injected back into the earth, whereas the importance of doing the injection brine is to maintain pressure in the reservoir and to prevent adverse effect on the environment. Long distances from separator or pond to the injection well will affect to brine flow in the pipe. In the geothermal field that has high silica content, construction and insulator of pipe will change the temperature of brine. This condition has impact to changes solubility of silica contained in the brine. Changes of pressure and heat loss causes change in enthalpy and brine flow rate and decrease in the inner diameter of the pipe caused by deposition of silica. Currently attempting to build a prediction model of silica scaling based on physical changes of brine flow in pipe.