Scrubber device for geothermal power generation and geothermal power generation system

Abstract

To prevent a separated liquid containing impurities from being mixed into geothermal steam in a scrubber device for geothermal power generation.SOLUTION: A scrubber device 93 for geothermal power generation includes a treatment vessel 10 that separates geothermal vapor G1 into separated gas G2 and separated liquid S by treating the geothermal vapor G1 with a treatment liquid R, the treatment vessel 10 including an air supply hole 15 to which the geothermal vapor G2 is supplied and an exhaust hole 16 through which the separated gas 40A is discharged, a drain 30 that is provided below the treatment vessel 10 and through which the separated liquid S is discharged, and a cooler that cools a portion of the treatment vessel 10 between the air supply hole 15 and the drain 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to geothermal power generation. [Background technology]

[0002] Geothermal steam used in geothermal power generation contains impurities such as silica and sulfides. Therefore, technologies for removing impurities from geothermal steam have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which impurities in geothermal steam supplied through a supply pipe are captured by water droplets from a water injection nozzle. The water droplets that have captured the impurities are discharged from a drain pipe connected to the bottom of the separator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 3-83615 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the liquid containing impurities may become atomized when heated by the geothermal steam. As the atomized liquid containing impurities rises, it is mixed with the geothermal steam, and the impurities may reach the power generation facility along with the geothermal steam. This may result in the impurities adhering to and accumulating on the turbines and other components of the power generation facility (causing scale), which may reduce the power generation efficiency (and even the amount of power generated). In consideration of the above circumstances, one aspect of the present disclosure aims to prevent the separated liquid containing impurities from being mixed into the geothermal steam. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, a scrubber device for geothermal power generation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a treatment vessel that separates geothermal steam into a separated gas and a separated liquid by treating the geothermal steam with a treatment liquid, and is equipped with an air inlet through which the geothermal steam is supplied and an exhaust port through which the separated gas is discharged, a drain pipe installed below the treatment vessel through which the separated liquid is discharged, and a cooling mechanism that cools the portion of the treatment vessel between the air inlet and the drain pipe.

[0006] A geothermal power generation system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a production well for generating geothermal steam, a geothermal power generation scrubber device that separates the geothermal steam into separated gas and separated liquid, and a power generation facility that generates power using the separated gas. The geothermal power generation scrubber device is a treatment vessel that separates the geothermal steam into separated gas and separated liquid by treating it with a treatment liquid, and includes the treatment vessel having an air inlet through which the geothermal steam is supplied and an exhaust port through which the separated gas is discharged, a drain pipe installed below the treatment vessel through which the separated liquid is discharged, and a cooling mechanism that cools the portion of the treatment vessel between the air inlet and the drain pipe. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a geothermal power generation system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a scrubber device for geothermal power generation in a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a scrubber device for geothermal power generation in a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a scrubber device for geothermal power generation in a third embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a scrubber device for geothermal power generation in a fourth embodiment. [Figure 6] 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the relationship between the internal pressure of a processing container and the opening degree of an adjusting valve. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a scrubber device for geothermal power generation in a fifth embodiment. [Figure 8]FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram relating to the relationship between the liquid level of the separated liquid and the opening degree of the adjusting valve. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a scrubber device for geothermal power generation in a sixth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a scrubber apparatus for geothermal power generation according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The following description of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is an exemplary embodiment that may be envisioned when implementing the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment exemplified below.

[0009] A: First embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a geothermal power generation system 100 according to a first embodiment. The geothermal power generation system 100 is a renewable energy power generation plant that generates electricity using geothermal energy. The geothermal power generation system 100 of the first embodiment includes a production well 91, an injection well 92, a geothermal power generation scrubber unit 93, a power generation facility 94, and a condenser 95. Note that various types of equipment not shown in FIG. 1 may be installed between the elements of the geothermal power generation system 100.

[0010] The production well 91 is a borehole that produces geothermal steam G1. Specifically, the production well 91 is a geothermal well that pumps steam and hot water from an underground geothermal reservoir. The geothermal steam G1 produced by the production well 91 contains impurities such as fine particles of silica or sulfides. The geothermal steam G1 produced by the production well 91 is supplied to a geothermal power generation scrubber unit 93.

[0011] The scrubber unit 93 for geothermal power generation is a gas-liquid separator that separates geothermal steam G1 into separated gas G2 and separated liquid S. The separated gas G2 is a high-pressure gas from which impurities have been removed from the geothermal steam G1. The impurities in the geothermal steam G1 are contained in the separated liquid S. In other words, the scrubber unit 93 for geothermal power generation is a cleaning device that produces separated gas G2 by cleaning the geothermal steam G1. The separated gas G2 produced by the scrubber unit 93 for geothermal power generation is supplied to a power generation facility 94.

[0012] The power generation facility 94 is an electric power facility that generates power using the separated gas G2. Specifically, the power generation facility 94 includes a generator (not shown) that generates power by rotating a turbine using the separated gas G2. The condenser 95 is a condenser that cools and condenses the steam discharged from the power generation facility 94. Hot water after condensation is discharged from the condenser 95.

[0013] The separated liquid S discharged from the geothermal power generation scrubber unit 93 is supplied to the reinjection well 92. The reinjection well 92 is a well that treats the separated liquid S and injects it underground. Note that the hot water discharged from the condenser 95 may also be supplied to the reinjection well 92.

[0014] As described above, in the first embodiment, the separated gas G2 from which impurities have been removed from the geothermal steam G1 is supplied to the power generation facility 94. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in power generation efficiency (and even power generation amount) due to, for example, the adhesion and accumulation of impurities on the turbine, etc. of the power generation facility 94.

[0015] Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of a geothermal power generation scrubber unit 93. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the geothermal power generation scrubber unit 93 of the first embodiment includes a treatment vessel 10, a liquid injection unit 20, a drainage pipe 30, and a cooling mechanism 40A.

[0016] The treatment vessel 10 is a reaction tower that treats geothermal steam G1 with a treatment liquid R to separate the steam into a separated gas G2 and a separated liquid S. The treatment vessel 10 is formed, for example, from a thermally conductive metal material. The liquid spray unit 20 is a sprayer that sprays a mist of the treatment liquid R into the treatment vessel 10, and is installed inside the treatment vessel 10.

[0017] Specifically, the liquid spraying unit 20 is composed of a main pipe 21 extending vertically, a plurality of branch pipes 22 extending radially from the main pipe 21, and a plurality of sprayers 23 installed on each branch pipe 22. A treatment liquid R is sprayed from each sprayer 23. The treatment liquid R is a cleaning liquid, such as water, for removing impurities from the geothermal steam G1.

[0018] The processing vessel 10 of the first embodiment is a hollow structure including a sidewall portion 11, a top surface portion 12, and a bottom surface portion 13. The sidewall portion 11 is a substantially cylindrical portion whose central axis is aligned in the vertical direction. The top surface portion 12 is a truncated cone-shaped portion connected to the vertically upper end of the sidewall portion 11. The bottom surface portion 13 is a disk-shaped portion that closes the vertically lower opening of the sidewall portion 11.

[0019] Treatment vessel 10 is provided with an air inlet 15, an exhaust hole 16, and a drain hole 17. Air inlet 15 is an opening through which geothermal steam G1 is supplied, and is formed in side wall 11 of treatment vessel 10. That is, geothermal steam G1 is introduced into treatment vessel 10 from air inlet 15. Air inlet 15 is formed at a predetermined height in side wall 11 of treatment vessel 10. Specifically, air inlet 15 is installed at a position spaced a predetermined distance vertically above bottom surface 13.

[0020] The exhaust hole 16 is an opening through which the separated gas G2 is discharged and is formed in the top surface 12 of the treatment vessel 10. That is, the exhaust hole 16 is formed at the vertically upper end of the treatment vessel 10. The geothermal steam G1 supplied into the treatment vessel 10 from the air inlet 15 rises vertically upward while swirling along the inner surface of the sidewall 11. As the geothermal steam G1 rises, impurities in the geothermal steam G1 are removed by the treatment liquid R injected from the liquid injection unit 20. The geothermal steam G1 after impurity removal by the treatment liquid R is discharged to the outside of the treatment vessel 10 from the exhaust hole 16 as the separated gas G2. The separated gas G2 discharged from the exhaust hole 16 is supplied to the power generation equipment 94 as described above. Meanwhile, droplets of the treatment liquid R that have captured the impurities from the geothermal steam G1 fall by gravity while adhering to the inner surface of the sidewall 11 and reach the bottom surface 13 of the treatment vessel 10 as the separated liquid S containing impurities.

[0021] The drain pipe 30 is installed below the treatment vessel 10. Specifically, the drain pipe 30 is a pipe extending vertically downward from the bottom surface 13 of the treatment vessel 10 and is connected to the drain hole 17 of the bottom surface 13. Therefore, the separated liquid S that reaches the bottom surface 13 of the treatment vessel 10 passes through the drain pipe 30 and is discharged. The separated liquid S that passes through the drain pipe 30 is supplied to the aforementioned reinjection well 92.

[0022] In the first embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the separation liquid S accumulates in a portion of the processing vessel 10 located vertically below (hereinafter referred to as "vessel bottom 10A"). Specifically, the liquid level F of the separation liquid S is located vertically above the bottom surface portion 13. That is, a liquid seal (water seal) is formed at the vessel bottom 10A of the processing vessel 10 due to the accumulation of the separation liquid S. For example, the flow rate of the separation liquid S flowing through the drain pipe 30 is set so that a water seal of the separation liquid S is formed in the processing vessel 10.

[0023] In an embodiment in which a liquid seal is not formed at the container bottom 10A (hereinafter referred to as "Comparative Example 1"), there is a possibility that the geothermal steam G1 will be discharged from the drain pipe 30 together with the separated liquid S. If the geothermal steam G1 is discharged from the drain pipe 30, a sufficient amount of the separated gas G2 will not be supplied to the power generation facility 94, which may result in a decrease in the amount of power generation. In contrast to Comparative Example 1, in the first embodiment, a liquid seal is formed at the container bottom 10A, so that the geothermal steam G1 can be prevented from being discharged into the drain pipe 30. Therefore, a decrease in the amount of power generation caused by the geothermal steam G1 being discharged into the drain pipe 30 can be suppressed.

[0024] The cooling mechanism 40A is a mechanism that cools the processing vessel 10. Specifically, the cooling mechanism 40A cools a portion of the processing vessel 10 between the air inlet 15 and the drain pipe 30 (hereinafter referred to as the "cooling target portion 10B"). In the first embodiment, the cooling target portion 10B is a portion of the processing vessel 10 between the air inlet 15 and the bottom surface portion 13. More specifically, the cooling target portion 10B is a portion of the processing vessel 10 between the air inlet 15 and the liquid surface F of the separation liquid S.

[0025] 2, the cooling mechanism 40A of the first embodiment is a liquid-cooled cooler including a cooling channel 41 and a supply mechanism 42. The cooling channel 41 is a pipe installed around the processing vessel 10. Specifically, the cooling channel 41 is spirally wound around the cooling target portion 10B of the processing vessel 10. That is, the cooling channel 41 is wound around the portion of the processing vessel 10 between the air inlet 15 and the bottom surface portion 13 (more specifically, the portion between the air inlet 15 and the liquid surface F of the separation liquid S).

[0026] The supply mechanism 42 is a pump that supplies the cooling flow path 41 with the coolant C. For example, the supply mechanism 42 supplies the liquid condensed by the condenser 95 to the cooling flow path 41 as the coolant C. Note that the supply mechanism 42 may also suck water from a river or lake near the geothermal power generation scrubber unit 93, for example, and supply the water to the cooling flow path 41 as the coolant C. The coolant C that has passed through the cooling flow path 41 and has undergone heat exchange is discharged to the outside via the drainage flow path 411.

[0027] As described above, in the first embodiment, a liquid seal of the separated liquid S is formed at the vessel bottom 10A of the treatment vessel 10. In a configuration in which the cooling target portion 10B is not cooled (hereinafter referred to as "Comparative Example 2"), the separated liquid S remaining at the bottom portion 13 of the treatment vessel 10 may be atomized by being heated by the geothermal steam G1 supplied to the treatment vessel 10. The atomized separated liquid S containing impurities rises inside the treatment vessel 10 together with the geothermal steam G1 and is eventually discharged from the exhaust hole 16. That is, the separated liquid S containing impurities is supplied to the power generation equipment 94 together with the separated gas G2. Then, impurities may adhere to and accumulate on the turbine, etc. of the power generation equipment 94, which may reduce the power generation efficiency.

[0028] In contrast to the above-described Comparative Example 2, in the first embodiment, the cooling target portion 10B of the processing vessel 10 between the air inlet 15 and the drain pipe 30 is cooled by the cooling mechanism 40A. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the separated liquid S from being atomized due to heating by the geothermal steam G1. As a result of preventing the separated liquid S from being atomized, it is possible to prevent the vapor of the separated liquid S containing impurities from being mixed with the geothermal steam G1 and being discharged from the exhaust hole 16. In other words, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent a decrease in power generation efficiency (and even power generation amount) caused by the adhesion and accumulation of impurities in the power generation equipment 94.

[0029] B: Second embodiment A second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Note that, for elements in the following exemplary aspects that have the same functions as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment will be used, and detailed descriptions of each will be omitted as appropriate.

[0030] 3 is a configuration diagram of a geothermal power generation scrubber apparatus 93 according to a second embodiment. In the first embodiment, a liquid-cooled cooling mechanism 40A including a cooling passage 41 and a supply mechanism 42 is exemplified. In the second embodiment, the cooling mechanism 40A is replaced with a cooling mechanism 40B. Similar to the cooling mechanism 40A of the first embodiment, the cooling mechanism 40B cools the cooling target 10B of the treatment vessel 10 between the air inlet 15 and the drain pipe 30. The cooling mechanism 40B of the second embodiment is an air-cooled cooler that cools the cooling target 10B of the treatment vessel 10 by heat exchange with the outside air located outside the treatment vessel 10.

[0031] Specifically, the cooling mechanism 40B is a cooling pipe 43 that constitutes a portion of the processing vessel 10 between the air inlet 15 and the drain pipe 30. In a portion of the processing vessel 10 located above the cooling pipe 43, the geothermal steam G1 is treated with the processing liquid R to generate a separated liquid S, and the separated liquid S that falls along the inner circumferential surface of the sidewall portion 11 of the processing vessel 10 passes through the cooling pipe 43. The cooling mechanism 40B cools the cooling target portion 10B of the processing vessel 10 by heat exchange with outside air (e.g., air) flowing around the cooling pipe 43. As illustrated in FIG. 3 , a liquid seal is formed in a portion of the processing vessel 10 located below the cooling pipe 43 (vessel bottom portion 10A) as the separated liquid S that has passed through the cooling pipe 43 accumulates.

[0032] The second embodiment also achieves the same effects as the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the processing vessel 10 is cooled by an air-cooled cooling mechanism 40B including a cooling pipe 43. Therefore, compared to the first embodiment in which the processing vessel 10 is cooled by, for example, a liquid-cooled cooling mechanism 40A, the cooling target 10B of the processing vessel 10 can be cooled with a simpler configuration. On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the cooling target 10B of the processing vessel 10 is cooled by the liquid-cooled cooling mechanism 40A that uses the cooling liquid C flowing through the cooling flow path 41. Therefore, compared to the second embodiment in which cooling is performed by the air-cooled cooling mechanism 40B, the cooling target 10B of the processing vessel 10 can be cooled more effectively and stably.

[0033] C: Third embodiment Fig. 4 is a configuration diagram of a scrubber unit 93 for geothermal power generation in the third embodiment. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the scrubber unit 93 for geothermal power generation in the third embodiment includes a regulating valve 50 in addition to the same elements as those in the first embodiment.

[0034] The regulating valve 50 is installed in the flow path between the treatment vessel 10 and the drain pipe 30. The regulating valve 50 is a valve device that can adjust the flow rate of the separated liquid S supplied from the treatment vessel 10 to the drain pipe 30. For example, a ball valve with a spherical valve body that rotates is exemplified as the regulating valve 50. The manager of the geothermal power generation scrubber device 93 can adjust the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 by manually operating the regulating valve 50. The flow rate of the separated liquid S is adjusted according to the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50.

[0035] Specifically, the opening degree D of the adjustment valve 50 is adjusted so that a liquid seal is formed by the accumulation of the separation liquid S at the vessel bottom 10A of the processing vessel 10. That is, the adjustment valve 50 of the third embodiment forms a liquid seal by adjusting the flow rate of the separation liquid S supplied from the processing vessel 10 to the drain pipe 30.

[0036] The third embodiment also achieves the same effects as the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the third embodiment, a liquid seal is formed by adjusting the flow rate using an adjustment valve 50 installed in the flow path between the treatment vessel 10 and the drain pipe 30. Therefore, a liquid seal at a desired liquid level can be stably formed. For example, as a result of suppressing the retention of an excessively large amount of separated liquid S, it is possible to suppress the separation liquid S from being atomized and being mixed into the geothermal steam G1.

[0037] D: Fourth embodiment 5 is a configuration diagram of a scrubber unit 93 for geothermal power generation according to the fourth embodiment. The scrubber unit 93 for geothermal power generation according to the fourth embodiment includes a regulating valve 50 similar to that of the third embodiment. The regulating valve 50 according to the fourth embodiment is an electromagnetic regulating valve whose opening degree D can be controlled in response to a control signal X. That is, the regulating valve 50 can adjust the flow rate of the separated liquid S supplied from the treatment vessel 10 to the drain pipe 30 in response to the control signal X.

[0038] 5, the scrubber unit 93 for geothermal power generation according to the fourth embodiment includes a pressure gauge 51 and a control unit 52 in addition to the same elements as those of the third embodiment. The pressure gauge 51 is a measuring instrument for measuring the internal pressure P of the treatment vessel 10. Any type of measurement technology can be used to measure the internal pressure P.

[0039] The control unit 52 is a computer that controls the regulating valve 50. For example, the control unit 52 is realized by a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) executing a program stored in a storage device. The control unit 52 controls the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 by outputting a control signal X to the regulating valve 50. The control unit 52 of the fourth embodiment controls the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 in accordance with the measurement result (i.e., the internal pressure P) by the pressure gauge 51.

[0040] When the liquid seal at the vessel bottom 10A of the processing vessel 10 is broken due to a shortage of the separation liquid S in the processing vessel 10 or the like, the internal pressure P of the processing vessel 10 decreases. When the internal pressure P decreases due to the breakage of the liquid seal, the control unit 52 forms a liquid seal of the separation liquid S at the vessel bottom 10A by reducing the flow rate of the separation liquid S to the drain pipe 30 by decreasing the opening degree D of the adjustment valve 50.

[0041] The fourth embodiment also achieves the same effects as the third embodiment. Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 is controlled in accordance with the measurement result of the internal pressure P of the processing vessel 10, so there is no need for an administrator to manually operate the regulating valve 50. Therefore, according to the fourth embodiment, the workload for forming a liquid seal with an appropriate liquid level can be reduced.

[0042] 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the control unit 52 controlling the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 in accordance with the internal pressure P. As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the internal pressure P measured by the pressure gauge 51 exceeds the threshold value Pref, the control unit 52 controls the regulating valve 50 to the opening degree DH. On the other hand, when the internal pressure P measured by the pressure gauge 51 is below the threshold value Pref, the control unit 52 controls the regulating valve 50 to the opening degree DL. The opening degree DL is lower than the opening degree DH. In other words, the flow rate of the separation liquid S when the internal pressure P is lower than the threshold value Pref is lower than the flow rate of the separation liquid S when the internal pressure P is higher than the threshold value Pref.

[0043] For example, let us consider a first value P1 and a second value P2 as measurement values ​​of the internal pressure P obtained by the pressure gauge 51. The second value P2 is a pressure value higher than the first value P1 (P2>P1). As illustrated in Fig. 6, the control unit 52 controls the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 so that the opening degree DL of the regulating valve 50 when the internal pressure P is the first value P1 is lower than the opening degree DH of the regulating valve 50 when the internal pressure P is the second value P2. In other words, the flow rate of the separation liquid S when the internal pressure P is the first value P1 is smaller than the flow rate of the separation liquid S when the internal pressure P is the second value P2.

[0044] As described above, in the fourth embodiment, when the internal pressure P decreases from the second value P2 to the first value P1 due to, for example, seal rupture, the opening D of the regulating valve 50 decreases (DH→DL), thereby increasing the amount of separation liquid S remaining in the processing vessel 10. Therefore, the liquid seal with an appropriate liquid level can be stably maintained.

[0045] In the above description, an example has been given in which the opening degree D of the adjustment valve 50 is changed in a binary manner with respect to the internal pressure P of the processing vessel 10, but the relationship between the internal pressure P and the opening degree D is not limited to the above example. For example, as shown by the dashed line in Fig. 6, the control unit 52 may control the opening degree D of the adjustment valve 50 in accordance with the internal pressure P of the processing vessel 10 so that the opening degree D changes continuously (for example, linearly or curvedly) with respect to the internal pressure P.

[0046] E: Fifth embodiment 7 is a configuration diagram of a geothermal power generation scrubber unit 93 according to the fifth embodiment. The geothermal power generation scrubber unit 93 according to the fifth embodiment includes an adjustment valve 50 whose opening degree D can be controlled in accordance with a control signal X, similar to the fourth embodiment.

[0047] As illustrated in Figure 7, the geothermal power generation scrubber unit 93 of the fifth embodiment includes a level gauge 53 and a control unit 54 in addition to the same elements as those of the third embodiment. The level gauge 53 is a level gauge that measures the liquid level L of the separated liquid S that remains in the vessel bottom 10A of the treatment vessel 10. The liquid level L is the height of the liquid level of the separated liquid S relative to a predetermined reference surface (for example, the surface of the bottom portion 13). Note that any type of measurement technology can be used to measure the liquid level L.

[0048] The control unit 54 is a computer that controls the regulating valve 50. As in the fourth embodiment, the control unit 54 is realized by a processing device such as a CPU or a DSP executing a program stored in a storage device. The control unit 54 controls the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 by outputting a control signal X to the regulating valve 50. The control unit 54 of the fifth embodiment controls the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 in accordance with the measurement result (i.e., the liquid level height L) by the liquid level gauge 53.

[0049] When the liquid seal at the vessel bottom 10A of the processing vessel 10 is broken due to a shortage of the separation liquid S or the like, the liquid level L of the separation liquid S drops. When the liquid level L drops due to the breakage of the liquid seal, the control unit 54 forms a liquid seal of the separation liquid S at the vessel bottom 10A by reducing the flow rate of the separation liquid S to the drain pipe 30 by reducing the opening degree D of the adjustment valve 50.

[0050] The fifth embodiment also achieves the same effects as the third embodiment. Furthermore, in the fifth embodiment, the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 is controlled in accordance with the measurement result of the liquid level height L, so there is no need for an administrator to manually operate the regulating valve 50. Therefore, according to the fifth embodiment, the workload for forming a liquid seal with an appropriate liquid level height L can be reduced.

[0051] 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the control unit 54 to control the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 in accordance with the liquid level L. As illustrated in FIG. 8, when the liquid level L measured by the liquid level gauge 53 exceeds the threshold value Lref, the control unit 54 controls the regulating valve 50 to the opening degree DH. On the other hand, when the liquid level L measured by the liquid level gauge 53 is below the threshold value Lref, the control unit 54 controls the regulating valve 50 to the opening degree DL. The opening degree DL is lower than the opening degree DH. In other words, the flow rate of the separated liquid S when the liquid level L is lower than the threshold value Lref is lower than the flow rate of the separated liquid S when the liquid level L is higher than the threshold value Lref.

[0052] For example, let us consider a first value L1 and a second value L2 as measurement values ​​of the liquid level height L obtained by the level gauge 53. The second value L2 is a measurement value that is higher than the first value L1 (L2>L1). As illustrated in Fig. 8, the control unit 54 controls the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 so that the opening degree DL of the regulating valve 50 when the liquid level height L is the first value L1 is lower than the opening degree DH of the regulating valve 50 when the liquid level height L is the second value L2. In other words, the flow rate of the separated liquid S when the liquid level height L is the first value L1 is smaller than the flow rate of the separated liquid S when the liquid level height L is the second value L2.

[0053] As described above, in the fifth embodiment, when the liquid level L drops from the second value L2 to the first value L1 due to, for example, seal breakage, the opening D of the regulating valve 50 decreases (DH→DL), thereby increasing the amount of separation liquid S remaining in the treatment vessel 10. Therefore, the liquid seal with an appropriate liquid level can be stably maintained.

[0054] In the above description, an example has been given in which the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 is changed in a binary manner with respect to the liquid level height L of the separation liquid S, but the relationship between the liquid level height L and the opening degree D is not limited to the above example. For example, as shown by the chain line in Fig. 8, the control unit 54 may control the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 in accordance with the liquid level height L so that the opening degree D of the regulating valve 50 changes continuously (for example, linearly or curvedly) with respect to the liquid level height L in the processing vessel 10.

[0055] F: Sixth embodiment 9 is a configuration diagram of a scrubber unit 93 for geothermal power generation according to the sixth embodiment. The scrubber unit 93 for geothermal power generation according to the sixth embodiment includes a check valve 60 in addition to the same elements as those in the first embodiment. The check valve 60 is installed in the flow path between the treatment vessel 10 and the drain pipe 30. The check valve 60 is a valve device capable of preventing the backflow of the separated liquid S from the drain pipe 30 toward the treatment vessel 10. Any known check valve 60 with any structure may be used.

[0056] The sixth embodiment also achieves the same effects as the first embodiment. In the sixth embodiment, a check valve 60 is installed between the processing vessel 10 and the drain pipe 30, so that backflow of the separation solution S from the drain pipe 30 toward the processing vessel 10 can be prevented. The check valve 60 of the sixth embodiment is applicable to any of the first to fifth embodiments.

[0057] G: Variation Specific modified embodiments that can be added to each of the embodiments exemplified above are exemplified below. Two or more embodiments arbitrarily selected from the following examples may be appropriately combined within the scope of not being mutually contradictory.

[0058] (1) In the third to sixth embodiments, a configuration based on the first embodiment in which the cooling mechanism 40A is installed has been exemplified, but the cooling mechanism 40A in the third to sixth embodiments may be replaced with the cooling mechanism 40B exemplified in the second embodiment. Also, in the third to sixth embodiments, the cooling mechanism 40 (40A, 40B) may be omitted.

[0059] (2) In the above-described embodiments, the container bottom 10A and the cooling target 10B of the processing container 10 do not overlap each other in the vertical direction, but the container bottom 10A and the cooling target 10B may overlap each other in the vertical direction. For example, the cooling mechanism 40 (40A, 40B) may cool a part or all of the container bottom 10A as the cooling target 10B.

[0060] (3) In the second embodiment, an air-cooled cooling mechanism 40B including the cooling pipe 43 is exemplified, but as shown in Fig. 10, a mechanism such as a plurality of cooling fins 44 may be installed on the cooling pipe 43. According to the configuration in Fig. 10, heat exchange between the cooling pipe 43 and the outside air is promoted, so that the separation liquid S inside the cooling pipe 43 can be efficiently cooled.

[0061] (4) The term "nth" (n is a natural number) in this application is used only as a formal and convenient label to distinguish each element in the description and does not have any substantive meaning. Therefore, there is no room for restrictive interpretation of the position or order of each element based on the term "nth."

[0062] H: Notes From the above-described exemplary embodiments, the following configurations can be understood, for example.

[0063] A scrubber apparatus for geothermal power generation according to one aspect (Aspect 1) of the present disclosure is a treatment vessel that separates geothermal steam into a separated gas and a separated liquid by treating the geothermal steam with a treatment liquid, and includes the treatment vessel having an air inlet to which the geothermal steam is supplied and an exhaust port through which the separated gas is discharged, a drain pipe installed below the treatment vessel through which the separated liquid is discharged, and a cooling mechanism that cools a portion of the treatment vessel between the air inlet and the drain pipe. According to the above aspect, the portion of the treatment vessel between the air inlet and the drain pipe is cooled by the cooling mechanism. Therefore, atomization of the separated liquid due to heating by the geothermal steam can be suppressed. As a result of suppressing atomization of the separated liquid, it is possible to suppress the separated liquid containing impurities from being mixed into the geothermal steam and being discharged from the exhaust port.

[0064] In a specific example (Aspect 2) of Aspect 1, the cooling mechanism includes a cooling channel installed around the processing vessel and a supply mechanism that supplies a coolant to the cooling channel. In the above aspect, the processing vessel is cooled by heat exchange with the coolant supplied to the cooling channel. Therefore, compared to, for example, an embodiment in which the processing vessel is cooled by an air-cooling mechanism, the processing vessel can be cooled more effectively and stably.

[0065] In a specific example (Aspect 3) of Aspect 1, the cooling mechanism is an air-cooling mechanism that cools the processing vessel by heat exchange with outside air. In the above aspect, the processing vessel is cooled by the air-cooling mechanism. Therefore, compared to, for example, an embodiment in which the processing vessel is cooled by a liquid-cooling mechanism, the processing vessel can be cooled with a simpler configuration.

[0066] In a specific example (Aspect 4) of any of Aspects 1 to 3, a liquid seal is formed in the vertically downward portion of the treatment vessel due to the accumulation of the separated liquid. In the above aspects, a liquid seal is formed in the vertically downward portion of the treatment vessel. Therefore, compared to an embodiment in which a liquid seal is not formed in the treatment vessel, it is possible to suppress the discharge of geothermal steam into the drain pipe.

[0067] A specific example of Aspect 4 (Aspect 5) further includes an adjustment valve installed in a flow path between the treatment vessel and the drain pipe, which adjusts the flow rate of the separated liquid supplied from the treatment vessel to the drain pipe to form the liquid ring. In the above aspect, the liquid ring is formed by adjusting the flow rate using the adjustment valve installed in the flow path between the treatment vessel and the drain pipe. Therefore, a liquid ring with a desired liquid level can be stably formed. For example, by preventing an excessively large amount of separated liquid from accumulating, it is possible to prevent the separated liquid from becoming atomized and being mixed into the geothermal steam.

[0068] A specific example of Aspect 5 (Aspect 6) further includes a pressure gauge that measures the internal pressure of the processing vessel, and a control unit that controls the aperture of the regulating valve in accordance with the measurement result from the pressure gauge. In this aspect, the aperture of the regulating valve is controlled in accordance with the measurement result of the internal pressure of the processing vessel, eliminating the need to manually operate the regulating valve. This reduces the workload required to form a liquid seal with an appropriate liquid level.

[0069] In a specific example (Aspect 7) of Aspect 6, the control unit controls the aperture of the regulating valve so that the aperture of the regulating valve when the internal pressure measured by the pressure gauge is a first value is lower than the aperture of the regulating valve when the internal pressure is a second value higher than the first value. In the above aspect, when the internal pressure drops from the second value to the first value due to seal breakage, for example, the aperture of the regulating valve decreases, thereby increasing the amount of separation liquid remaining in the treatment vessel. Therefore, a liquid seal with an appropriate liquid level can be stably maintained.

[0070] A specific example of Aspect 5 (Aspect 8) further includes a level gauge that measures the liquid level of the separation liquid remaining in the treatment vessel, and a control unit that controls the aperture of the adjustment valve in accordance with the measurement result from the level gauge. In this aspect, the aperture of the adjustment valve is controlled in accordance with the measurement result of the liquid level of the separation liquid, eliminating the need to manually operate the adjustment valve. This reduces the workload required to form a liquid seal with an appropriate liquid level.

[0071] In a specific example of Aspect 8 (Aspect 9), the control unit controls the aperture of the regulating valve so that the aperture of the regulating valve when the liquid level measured by the level gauge is a first value is lower than the aperture of the regulating valve when the liquid level is a second value higher than the first value. In the above aspect, when the liquid level of the separation liquid drops from the second value to the first value due to seal breakage, for example, the aperture of the regulating valve decreases, thereby increasing the amount of separation liquid remaining in the treatment vessel. Therefore, a liquid seal with an appropriate liquid level can be stably maintained.

[0072] In a specific example (Aspect 10) of any of Aspects 1 to 9, a check valve is further provided in a flow path between the processing vessel and the drain pipe, for preventing backflow of the separation liquid from the drain pipe toward the processing vessel. In the above aspects, a check valve is provided between the processing vessel and the drain pipe. Therefore, backflow of the separation liquid from the drain pipe toward the processing vessel can be prevented.

[0073] A geothermal power generation system according to one aspect (Aspect 11) of the present disclosure includes a production well for generating geothermal steam, a geothermal scrubber unit for separating the geothermal steam into a separated gas and a separated liquid, and a power generation facility for generating power using the separated gas. The geothermal scrubber unit is a treatment vessel that separates the geothermal steam into a separated gas and a separated liquid by treating the geothermal steam with a treatment liquid. The treatment vessel includes an air inlet through which the geothermal steam is supplied and an exhaust port through which the separated gas is discharged. A drain pipe installed below the treatment vessel for discharging the separated liquid is also provided. A cooling mechanism cools a portion of the treatment vessel between the air inlet and the drain pipe. According to the above aspect, the cooling mechanism cools the portion of the treatment vessel between the air inlet and the drain pipe. This prevents the separated liquid from becoming atomized due to heating by the geothermal steam. As a result of preventing the atomization of the separated liquid, it is possible to prevent the separated liquid containing impurities from being mixed into the geothermal steam and being discharged through the exhaust port. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in power generation efficiency (and even power generation amount) caused by adhesion or accumulation of impurities on the power generation equipment.

[0074] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that geothermal steam may be discharged from the drain pipe together with the liquid containing impurities. If geothermal steam is discharged from the drain pipe, there is a possibility that the power generation facility will not be supplied with enough geothermal steam, resulting in a decrease in the amount of power generation.

[0075] Taking the above circumstances into consideration, a scrubber device for geothermal power generation according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a treatment vessel that separates geothermal steam into separated gas and separated liquid by treating it with a treatment liquid, and is equipped with an air inlet through which the geothermal steam is supplied and an exhaust port through which the separated gas is discharged, and a drain pipe installed below the treatment vessel through which the separated liquid is discharged, and a liquid seal is formed in the part of the treatment vessel located vertically below due to the accumulation of the separated liquid.

[0076] According to the above-described embodiment, a liquid seal is formed in the vertically lower portion of the treatment vessel, which can prevent geothermal steam from being discharged into the drain pipe, compared to an embodiment in which a liquid seal is not formed in the treatment vessel. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 100...geothermal power generation system, 10...treatment vessel, 10A...vessel bottom, 10B...cooling target portion, 11...side wall portion, 12...top surface portion, 13...bottom portion, 15...air inlet, 16...exhaust port, 17...drain hole, 20...liquid injection portion, 21...main pipe, 22...branch pipe, 23...sprayer, 30...drain pipe, 40A, 40B...cooling mechanism, 41...cooling flow path, 411...drain flow path, 42...supply mechanism, 43...cooling pipe, 44...cooling fin, 50...regulating valve, 51...pressure gauge, 52, 54...control portion, 53...liquid level gauge, 54...control portion, 60...check valve, 91...production well, 92...reinjection well, 93...geothermal power generation scrubber device, 94...power generation equipment, 95...condenser

Claims

1. a treatment vessel for treating geothermal steam with a treatment liquid to separate the geothermal steam into a separated gas and a separated liquid, the treatment vessel having an air inlet through which the geothermal steam is supplied and an exhaust port through which the separated gas is discharged; a drain pipe installed below the treatment vessel for discharging the separated liquid; a cooling mechanism that cools a portion of the processing vessel between the air inlet and the drain pipe; A scrubber device for geothermal power generation equipped with:

2. The cooling mechanism includes: a cooling channel disposed around the processing vessel; a supply mechanism for supplying a cooling liquid to the cooling flow path. The scrubber system for geothermal power generation according to claim 1.

3. The cooling mechanism includes: An air-cooling mechanism that cools the processing vessel by heat exchange with the outside air. The scrubber system for geothermal power generation according to claim 1.

4. A liquid seal is formed in the vertically lower portion of the treatment vessel due to the accumulation of the separation liquid. The scrubber apparatus for geothermal power generation according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. an adjusting valve that is installed in a flow path between the processing vessel and the drain pipe, and that forms the liquid seal by adjusting the flow rate of the separation liquid supplied from the processing vessel to the drain pipe; The scrubber system for geothermal power generation according to claim 4, further comprising:

6. a pressure gauge for measuring the internal pressure of the processing vessel; a control unit that controls the opening degree of the regulating valve in accordance with the measurement result of the pressure gauge; The scrubber system for geothermal power generation according to claim 5, further comprising:

7. The control unit The opening degree of the regulating valve is controlled so that the opening degree of the regulating valve when the internal pressure measured by the pressure gauge is a first value is lower than the opening degree of the regulating valve when the internal pressure is a second value higher than the first value. The scrubber system for geothermal power generation according to claim 6.

8. a level gauge for measuring the level of the separated liquid remaining in the treatment vessel; a control unit that controls the opening degree of the regulating valve in accordance with the measurement result by the liquid level gauge; The scrubber system for geothermal power generation according to claim 5, further comprising:

9. The control unit The opening degree of the regulating valve is controlled so that the opening degree of the regulating valve when the liquid level measured by the liquid level gauge is a first value is lower than the opening degree of the regulating valve when the liquid level is a second value higher than the first value. The scrubber system for geothermal power generation according to claim 8.

10. a check valve that is installed in a flow path between the processing vessel and the drain pipe and that prevents the separated liquid from flowing back from the drain pipe toward the processing vessel; The scrubber system for geothermal power generation according to claim 1, further comprising:

11. a production well for generating geothermal steam; a geothermal power generation scrubber device that separates the geothermal steam into a separated gas and a separated liquid; a power generation facility that generates electricity using the separated gas; Equipped with The geothermal power generation scrubber device comprises: a treatment vessel for treating geothermal steam with a treatment liquid to separate the geothermal steam into a separated gas and a separated liquid, the treatment vessel having an air inlet through which the geothermal steam is supplied and an exhaust port through which the separated gas is discharged; a drain pipe installed below the treatment vessel for discharging the separated liquid; a cooling mechanism that cools a portion of the processing vessel between the air inlet and the drain pipe; Geothermal power generation system including:

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