Geothermal Scrubber Heating Unit Prevents Scale Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Geothermal power generation systems face challenges in removing impurities like silica, calcium, and magnesium from geothermal water vapor, leading to precipitation and clogging issues in scrubber devices, which can reduce system efficiency and cause equipment failures.
Innovation Solution
A scrubber device incorporating a wet cyclone scrubber unit with a heating unit and optional chemical agent or dilution solution treatment to prevent precipitation by adjusting the temperature and pH of the drainage, ensuring that impurities do not form scale and clog flow paths, and a dry cyclone scrubber unit for initial vapor-liquid separation and removal of larger suspended solids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If geothermal water is processed through a scrubber device to remove suspended solids, then purification efficiency is improved, but precipitation of inorganic salts (calcium, magnesium, silica) causes clogging and reduces system reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by introducing chemical agents (acids, bases, or chelating agents) into the geothermal water before it enters the scrubber device. This pre-treatment prevents the precipitation of inorganic salts like calcium, magnesium, and silica that would otherwise cause clogging in the scrubber and downstream equipment, thereby maintaining system reliability while achieving effective purification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses chemical agents as intermediaries to prevent the harmful interaction between geothermal water and the scrubber system. These agents (acids, bases, or chelating agents) mediate by binding to metal ions and adjusting pH, preventing scale formation and clogging while allowing the scrubber to effectively remove suspended solids
2Manufacturing precision
If cyclone separation technology is used to remove suspended solids, then separation efficiency is improved, but the device structure becomes complex requiring multiple units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated scrubber device that combines cyclone separation technology with chemical treatment capabilities. This unified structure eliminates the need for separate pretreatment and separation units, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high separation efficiency for suspended solids
Solution Approach 2:
The scrubber device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a chemical treatment unit (for preventing precipitation) and a separation unit (for removing suspended solids). This universal design consolidates what would traditionally require multiple specialized devices into one versatile system
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively prevents the precipitation of impurities, maintaining system efficiency and preventing clogging, thereby ensuring continuous operation and extending equipment lifespan by effectively removing suspended solids and preventing scale formation.
Implementation Method 1
a scrubber device that removes suspended solids in geothermal water by using a cyclone separation technology
Implementation Method 2
a scrubber device that removes suspended solids in geothermal water by using a cyclone separation technology
Implementation Method 3
by heating at least a part of the liquid outlet region and the liquid outlet tube
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a scrubber device including: a reaction tower in which an internal space is formed; a liquid spray unit configured to spray a liquid in the internal space; a gas inlet port configured to introduce a gas to the reaction tower; a liquid outlet port configured to discharge, from the reaction tower, drainage generated by treatment of taking, into the liquid, a substance in the gas; a gas supply unit configured to supply the treated gas from the reaction tower; and a heating unit which is provided in at least a part of a portion close to the liquid outlet port with respect to the gas inlet port in the reaction tower, and a portion of a liquid outlet tube that is connected downstream from the liquid outlet port, and which is configured to heat the drainage.