Prevention of Corrosion and Scaling in Geothermal Power Plants Equipment

Abstract

Exploitation of Geothermal Power Plants (GeoPP) is usually accompanied by corrosion damages and formation of scale deposits in the pipelines and power equipment, leading to the reliability and efficiency reduction. Prevention of corrosion and scaling on GeoPP is an important practical problem. On the basis of the practical experience and analytical investigations elements of high wear for pipelines and power equipment of Mutnovsky GeoPP (50 MW) and Verkhne-Mutnovsky GeoPP (12 MW) have been detected. The technology of surface-active reagents periodic dosing in the pressure circuit of a geothermal power plant during its operation (in order to prevent corrosion and scaling) and at the shut-down (to protect against atmospheric corrosion) has been developed. Analysis of the first results of these technologies implementation on the Russian GeoPPs fully confirmed their effectiveness both in single and two-phase flows.