Production of Sulfuric Acid from Geothermal Power Station Exhausted Gas for Use in Scale Prevention

Abstract

Among a number of serious problems experienced in geothermal power stations, silica scale deposition at various places has great importance in maintaining rated capacities for power generation. has already been known that silica deposition is prevented by keeping the of the solution acidic Therefore, it was considered that the of the brine can be controlled by sulfuric acid manufactured from hydrogen sulfide in the exhausted gases. In an experimental apparatus, the sulfuric acid for the acidification of the brine was confirmed to be manufactured from hydrogen sulfide by three different methods : hydrogen sulfide burning method thermophilic biological oxidation method. biochemical reactor method. These methods generally provide economical acidification processes to prevent silica scale deposition and would also contribute to the reduction of hydrogen sulfide emission at geothermal power stations.