Geothermal Cyclone separator Pressure Losses at the Wairakei Weber Separators, New Zealand

Abstract

This report is about geothermal cyclone separator pressure losses and existing empirical equations developed for cyclone separators. An attempt was also made to determine the pressure loss coefficient for the Wairakei Weber separators.

Pressure measurements were conducted in the Wairakei geothermal field using a Keller digital pressure gauge. The existing two-phase and steam line Bourdon pressure gauges were removed and replaced with the digital gauge. The measured pressure drops ranged from 0.194 to 0.528 bars for the six types (according to dimensions) of separators considered.

High steam superficial inlet velocity gives high separator pressure drop. However, pressure drop is also associated with separator design and geometry. For example, steam superficial inlet velocity vanes with the inlet pipe size top steam or bottom steam outlet. The six separators tested have a pressure coeficient, K ranging 14 to 30 that is comparable with Shepherd and Lapple conelation, which ranges from 13 to 28.