Experimental detection of inadequacies and improvements for a geothermal power plant using single shaft double turbine binary Organic Rankine cycle as power system

Abstract

The present paper dealt with the performance analyses and improvement probabilities detection for the present geothermal power plant. In addition, the present study aimed to present an analysis methodology for manufacturers and users to detect deficiencies, inadequacies and probable improvements for a present system. In this study, a geothermal power plant was used as a sample system for the analyses. Analyses were applied to the plant regarding energy, exergy, economic and environmental aspects. After comprehensive analyses, it was observed that the power consumption of the fans shows dramatic change depending on the seasons. For this reason, if the location and site conditions of the facility are suitable, performing the cooling processes with water-cooled condensers instead of air-cooled condensers was suggested. Moreover, by keeping the acceptance of saturated steam inlet at the turbine, it is thought that an increase in system performance will be achieved by designing a pump system that can increase organic fluid pressures up to partially higher pressures. In addition to all these, it was recommended to analyse the effect of integrating a superheater to bring the organic fluid to the superheated vapour phase at the turbine inlet.