Managing Debris in Geothermal Production Fluid
- Key words
- Strainers, filtering, debris, scale, solid removal, solid waste management, cleaning, maintenance, separators
- Conference
- New Zealand Geothermal Workshop
- Year
- 2020
- Session
- Session 4.1 Above Ground Technology 2
- Language
- English
- Paper number
- 71
Full text
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Abstract
Geothermal debris from flowing geothermal wells is a common occurrence in geothermal plants and needs to be managed to avoid damaging critical equipment such as heat exchangers, turbines, pumps, or reinjection systems. Slotted well liners, strainers and liquid/solid separators are examples of equipment used for this purpose. This paper reviews equipment designs developed in New Zealand to manage debris around steam fields between 1988 and 2020. Sources, types of debris and its impact on plant operations and maintenance are also described. A discussion around learnings based on field operations is presented, as well as suggestions for debris management equipment improvements.
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