An Innovative Approach to Mitigating Sulfur Deposition in the Condenser at Mahanagdong Geothermal Power Plant

Abstract

CalEnergy International Ltd. is currently operating three geothermal power plants in Leyte with a total gmss capacity of 546 MW. These plants were built and am operated under the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) scheme in partnership with the PNOC Energy Development Corporation.

The Mahanagdong power plant of CE-Luzon Geothermal Power Company with a gmss capacity of 180 MW (t64.7 MW net) has experienced sulfur build-up in the main condenser and heat exchangers. The build-up of sutfur is quite alarming and continued accumulation lead to fouling and backpressure build-up within the condenser. As a result, condenser efficiency decreases, and both turbine performance and unit efficiency are adversely affected. To address the problem, several options were evaluated and most practical solution was adopted to mitigate sulfur deposition.

Ways to remediate sulfur build-up are presented in this paper. Results of the recent inspections of the critical exchangers are compared with those of last year.