Online Geothermal Steam Diagnostic System for Scale Prediction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional geothermal generation facilities face challenges in predicting and preventing operational troubles such as scale coating in turbines, which are often addressed through manual analysis and require skilled staff, leading to inefficiencies and economic losses due to frequent shutdowns for inspection and cleaning.
Innovation Solution
An online diagnostic method and system that utilizes automatic steam measurement devices to monitor silica concentration, chloride ion concentration, and other parameters, applying statistical calculations and principle component analysis to predict deviations and provide early warnings, enabling proactive maintenance and optimizing steam quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual analysis of dissolved components in steam is conducted monthly, then steam quality monitoring is performed, but labor costs and fees increase while timely detection is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical analysis with an automatic steam measurement device that uses optical measurement principles. The device includes a light source, light receiving element, and processing unit that automatically measure steam characteristics without manual intervention, enabling continuous real-time monitoring while reducing labor costs and improving detection timeliness.
2Reliability
If frequent shutdowns are performed for turbine inspection and cleaning, then scale coating is prevented, but productivity and economic efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by continuously monitoring steam characteristics (silica concentration, temperature, pressure) and predicting scale coating formation before it occurs. The system calculates scale deposition rates and issues early warnings, allowing operators to perform maintenance only when necessary rather than following fixed schedules, thus preventing unnecessary shutdowns while ensuring turbine reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where measurement data from the steam is continuously fed back to the processing unit, which compares actual values against thresholds and predicts future scale formation. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of maintenance schedules based on real-time conditions, optimizing the balance between reliability and productivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If separator design is based on early-phase production well characteristics, then initial steam quality is optimized, but the separator becomes ineffective as well characteristics change with age
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the separator system adaptable to changing conditions. Rather than a fixed design, the system continuously measures steam characteristics and adjusts operational parameters. The measurement device monitors silica concentration, temperature, and pressure in real-time, allowing the system to dynamically respond to changes in production well characteristics as they age, maintaining effectiveness without physical redesign.
Data Source
AI summary
An online diagnostic system for a geothermal generation facility is discloses that includes an automatic steam measurement device for measuring a characteristic of steam to be supplied to a steam turbine from a steam-water separator at the geothermal generation facility that outputs analysis data. A monitor-control device controls an operation of the geothermal generation facility while monitoring the geothermal generation facility. A diagnostic device performs at least one of an evaluation of a steam characteristic at the geothermal generation facility, an evaluation of the steam-water separator, and an evaluation of pulsation and confluence of a production well based on the analysis data from the automatic steam measurement device and performance data of the geothermal generation facility from the monitor-control device. An operating status of the geothermal generation facility is diagnosed.