Thermal Efficiency of the Los Humeros Geothermal Field Fluid Transportation Network

Abstract

First and Second Law thermal efficiencies the Los Humeros geothermal field (LHGF) fluid transportation network were evaluated from mass, energy and exergy flows at different points of the network, including mass and heat losses from the pipelines, fittings, condensate drains and steam separators. Efficiencies of the transportation sub-processes and overall steam field (wellhead to power plant inlet) were evaluated. The 1st law efficiency between wellheads and the wells flow measuring orifice plates was found to be 100%, while the corresponding 2nd law efficiency was 91.4%. The transportation network, between the wells flow measuring orifice plates and the power plant steam delivery points, showed 1st law and 2nd law efficiencies of 93.5% and 90.5%, respectively. For the overall steam field, the 1st law efficiency was 93.5% whereas 2nd law efficiency was 82.7%. The analysis excluded the existing power plants.