Geothermal Power System Flasher Steam Hot Water Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing geothermal power generating systems face inefficiencies in using geothermal energy due to differences in energy levels between steam and hot water, leading to insufficient superheating of low-boiling-point media, which hampers the power generation amount.
Innovation Solution
The proposed power generating system includes a flasher to separate geothermal fluid into steam and hot water, with the steam driving a steam turbine and the hot water used for superheating a low-boiling-point medium in a binary cycle, enhancing heat exchange efficiency through a sequence of preheaters, evaporators, and superheaters to drive a medium turbine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If steam and hot water are joined together for heat exchange with low-boiling-point medium, then heat exchange process is simplified, but superheating efficiency of low-boiling-point medium becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heat exchange process into separate stages: steam heat exchange and hot water heat exchange. The steam is first used to heat the low-boiling-point medium, followed by hot water heat exchange, ensuring sufficient superheating temperature while maintaining a structured but manageable heat exchange process.
2Ease of operation
If steam and hot water are joined together for heat exchange, then system operation is simplified, but energy utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first using steam to heat the low-boiling-point medium before introducing hot water for additional heat exchange. This sequential approach ensures maximum energy utilization from both heat sources while maintaining relatively simple system operation through a standardized two-stage heat exchange process.
3Device complexity
If steam and hot water are combined for heat exchange, then process flow is simplified, but power generation amount decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by optimizing the heat exchange conditions in different stages: steam provides high-temperature heating in the first stage, while hot water provides additional heating in the second stage. This localized optimization of heat exchange quality at each stage ensures sufficient superheating temperature to maximize power generation from the low-boiling-point medium while keeping the overall process flow relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A flasher separates a geothermal fluid into steam and hot water. A steam turbine is driven by being supplied with the separated steam as a working medium. An evaporator is supplied with the steam from the steam turbine as a first heating medium, which is thereafter supplied to a first preheater via the evaporator. A superheater is supplied with the hot water separated by the flasher as a second heating medium, which is thereafter supplied to a second preheater via the superheater. A medium turbine is driven by being supplied, as a working medium, with a low-boiling-point medium having been heat-exchanged sequentially in the first preheater, the second preheater, the evaporator, and the superheater. In the evaporator and the first preheater, the low-boiling-point medium and the first heating medium are heat-exchanged. In the superheater and the second preheater, the low-boiling-point medium and the second heating medium are heat-exchanged.