Geothermal Turbine Scale Removal via Chemical Injection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Geothermal power generation faces challenges in reducing power generation costs due to scale adhesion on turbine blades, with existing methods either damaging the blades or requiring costly equipment modifications and frequent turbine halts, and existing scale removal methods are inefficient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
Injecting a diluted alkaline solution and aminocarboxylic acid-based chelating solution into geothermal steam flowing into the turbine during power generation to dissolve scale without halting the turbine, with the solutions' pH adjusted to 10 or higher, allowing for continuous operation even with steam containing 0.1 ppm or more of SiO2 and/or Cl.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sand blast is used to remove scale from turbine blade, then scale removal is achieved, but turbine blade is damaged and power generation must be halted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical sand blast method with a chemical solution injection method. The alkaline solution chemically dissolves the scale on turbine blades without requiring mechanical impact, thus avoiding blade damage while enabling continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the steam by injecting alkaline solutions to adjust pH and chemical composition. This transforms the scale removal process from mechanical to chemical, allowing scale dissolution without halting the turbine and preventing blade damage.
2Reliability
If water is injected into geothermal steam at turbine inlet, then scale removal is achieved, but cavitation erosion occurs on turbine blade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using alkaline solutions instead of plain water. This alters the pH and chemical properties of the injected fluid, enabling scale removal through chemical dissolution rather than physical cavitation, thus protecting the turbine blade.
Solution Approach 2:
The alkaline solution acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates scale removal through chemical reaction rather than physical cavitation. It mediates between the need for scale removal and the need to prevent blade erosion by providing a chemical dissolution mechanism.
3Productivity
If alkaline solution and chelating solution are injected into geothermal steam, then scale dissolution rate increases and removal time decreases, but solution composition must be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares the alkaline and chelating solutions in advance with specific compositions and pH values before injection. This preliminary preparation ensures optimal scale dissolution performance when the solutions are introduced into the steam, maximizing removal efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity.
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
The method effectively dissolves scale at a higher rate and in shorter time, enabling continuous power generation without turbine halts and allowing the use of steam with inferior properties, reducing erosion and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a method includes a step of injecting an alkaline solution and a chelating solution into geothermal steam flowing into a turbine during power generation and a step of removing geothermal scale formed adhering to a turbine blade using the solutions injected
Data Source
AI summary
A method for removing scale from a turbine blade in a geothermal power generation system has been developed. The developed method for removing scale from a turbine blade is characterized in that an alkaline solution and a chelating solution are injected into geothermal steam flowing into a turbine during power generation and geothermal scale formed adhering to the turbine blade is removed using the injected solutions. The present removal method can remove the scale adhering to a geothermal turbine blade in a short amount of time by improving the scale removal effect than heretofore. Further, a method for geothermal power generation preventing scale adhesion to the turbine blade is provided and a geothermal power generation system can be provided that enables continuous operation without performing opening and cleaning the turbine, even when geothermal steam containing 0.1 ppm or more of SiO2 and/or Cl is introduced into the turbine.