How to Increase Geothermal Power Conversion Efficiencies
- Key words
- power conversion, supercritical cycles, solar energy, hybrid plants, hot rock geothermal
- Conference
- Australian Geothermal Energy Conference
- Year
- 2009
- Language
- English
Full text
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Abstract
Geothermal power plants in dry regions typically use air cooling and consequently suffer from reduced efficiencies during hot days. In this paper, it will be demonstrated it may be possible to use solar boosting to maintain the geothermal plant power generation in such instances. It will be shown that commercial feasibility of solar boosting is improved when the cycle fluid is heated over a variable temperature range instead of the steam or organic Rankin cycles with fixed evaporation points. Results with supercritical CO2 cycles will be compared against more conventional alternatives.
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