Optimizing the potential of geothermal resources in steam power plants with retrofitted Binary Technology: Exergy’s case study in the Philippines, Mindanao 3 Power Plant

Abstract

In the Asia Pacific Region and in many other countries at the edge of the area known as the Circum-Pacific belt, the geothermal power potential is huge. The main technology used to harness these resources has traditionally been flash steam turbine power plant with more than 10GW installed power worldwide. Even though efficient and reliable these systems waste a significant part of the thermal capacity available in the liquid phase referred to as brine. This energy can be exploited to maximize the geothermal potential of a resource in a steam field and increase the power output of the plant without the additional investments and risks normally associated with exploration and drilling.
The following paper illustrates in detail a recent application of Exergy’s advanced binary system employing the Radial Outflow Turbine Technology for brine recovery in the Mindanao 3 flash power Plant in the Philippines. The paper will describe the features and outline the advantages of this solution which can increase the electrical power output of a steam field by 30% with no additional environmental footprint.