Inhibiting Complex Deposits in Geothermal Energy Extraction

Abstract

Earth has a vast amount of heat stored at its center, this inexhaustible resource is expected to last billions of years and is constantly available, which can produce energy as base load, 24/7 365 day a year. Several other competing renewal resources of energy such as, solar, wind, thermal, etc., has many limitations, however, are gaining wide use. Use of geothermal energy is also limited due to the formation of complex deposits in various parts of the geothermal energy extraction process. Dealing with deposits consisting of Fe, Mn, As, either with silica or sulfide or their mixtures require strategies beyond threshold inhibition of such minerals. In this paper the author has presented recent improvements in understanding of complex deposit mineral formation and the use of chemical inhibitors for geothermal brine treatment to extract maximum enthalpy from the geothermal resources.