The Economic and Environmentally Sound Handling of Geothermal Sulfur Byproducts: A Case History

Abstract

The Geysers, located in Californiaís Mountains north of San Francisco, is the largest steam geothermal resource in the world. While steam quality at Gcyscrs from one end of field to the other, the presence of gases in the steam, specifically hydrogcn sulfidc cannot be avoided. Permit and regulatory requirements for all power plant operators that steam turbine be abated at point tu a level that presents risk to the public or the environment Various methods and utilized to accomplish this abatement. The common abatement method utilizes the Stretford redox technology, where reacts with a vanadium solution to form elemental sulfur by-product. A of factors have been a challenge, both from an and environmental perspedive, to finding an acceptablc means of managing Stretford by-product. This paper will trace the ongoing cndcavors of Gcyscrs powcr plant operator, namely to an acceptable option for managing its geothermal sulfur by-product