Category Geothermal Power Plants

Working Fluids – Isopentane and n-Pentane

The geothermal dual flow power generation system is a kind of power generation system which uses low boiling point medium as the working medium to drive the turbine. So far, it can make the medium and low temperature geothermal fluid which is difficult to use for power generation. In March 2006, the operation test of the machine began. After the Junyuan’s Isopentane is heated in the preheater, it changes from liquid to gas (Isopentane steam) in the evaporator and enters the turbine to make the generator rotate and generate electricity.

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At the end of power generation, the Isopentane flowing out of the turbine is cooled and liquefied in the air-cooled condenser, and then sent to the preheater by the medium circulating pump. The Isopentane system is a closed cycle system, which will not be discharged into the atmosphere due to its recyclability. The geothermal dual flow cycle power generation system uses Isopentane from Junyuan to promote and expand the utilization of geothermal energy in Japan and around the world.

Energy from the geothermal fluid is transferred to isopentane on the tube side of the heat exchanger to power a two-stage steam turbine with a direct-connected generator turning at 1,800 rpm. In other words, it’s a typical Rankine cycle. Isopentane is used because it vaporizes at lower temperatures and higher pressures than water, making it an ideal working fluid for recovering energy from low-temperature geothermal fluids . The vaporous isopentane is condensed and heat is rejected through a conventional four-cell cooling tower.

Organic power. Ormat supplied the organic Rankine cycle that uses the geothermal resource to produce electrical power. The working fluid is isopentane.

Pentanes Used For Geothermal Power Plants

Processes and applications
Binary Cycle Geothermal Plant Organic Rankine or Kalina Cycle
Binary cycle processes are quite frequent nowadays to make use of the medium enthalpy hydrothermal resources available in the underground. A secondary working fluid having a flashing point at much lower temperature is heated-up by the hydrothermal resource and then expanded in a thermal turbine to drive an electric generator.

Binary Cycle Geothermal Plant Organic Rankine or Kalina Cycle
A binary cycle plant transfers heat from the hot geothermal fluid (105°C < T < 185°C) that is sent through a heat exchanger to vaporize a secondary working fluid such as pentane, iso-butane in the Organic Rankine Cycle, or ammonia in the Kalina Cycle. The working fluid is then expanded in a turbine, condensed and reheated in a closed loop cycle. The brine is disposed of by re-injection into the ground. The system supports these processes with Production pumps (PP), Brine Re-Injection pumps (BRIP), Hydrocarbon Feed pumps (HFP), Cooling Water pumps (CWP) and auxiliary pumps.

A simple Kalina cycle includes a waste heat recovery vapor generator, a turbine, and the distillation condensation system. In the distillation condensation subsystem, first the flow incoming from the turbine is cooled by the heater (recuperator), and then the stream is mixed with a lean solution of ammonia to increase the condensation temperature of the working fluid.

The Kalina cycle is a modified Rankine cycle involving mixtures of ammonia and water of varying concentration, that offers higher performance for temperatures between 200 and 300 °C. It is being pursued commercially and also targeted at geothermal power applications.

Isopentane – ( i-C5H12 )

Colorless liquid with a gasoline-like odor. Floats on water. Flammable, irritating vapor is produced.

Specifications 
Purity , %99
(Liquid Phase)(Vol. %)
Other Impurities
Ship
DOT Shipping Name Isopentane
DOT Classification3
DOT Label Flammable , Liquid 
UN Number UN1265
CAS No.78-78-4
Technical Information
Cylinder State @ 21.1°C Liquid 
Flammable Limits In Air 
Auto Ignition Temperature (°C )
Molecular Weight (g/mol)72.15
Specific gravity (air =1)2.48
Critical Temperature ( °C )
Critical Pressure ( psig )
Applications
Isopentane is used in a closed loop  in geothermal power production to drive turbines.

N-pentane – ( n-C5H12 )

A clear colorless liquid with a petroleum-like odor. Flash point 57°F. Boiling point 97°F. Less dense than water and insoluble in water. Hence floats on water. Vapors are heavier than air. 

Specifications 
Purity , %99
(Liquid Phase)(Vol. %)
Other Impurities
Ship
DOT Shipping Name Pentane
DOT Classification3
DOT Label Flammable , Liquid 
UN Number UN1265
CAS No.109-66-0
CGA/DISS /BS341/DIN477510/NO.4/NO.1
Technical Information
Cylinder State @ 21.1°C Liquid
Flammable Limits In Air 1.4-7.8%
Auto Ignition Temperature (°C )260
Molecular Weight (g/mol)72.15
Specific gravity (air =1)2.491
Critical Temperature ( °C )196.5
Critical Pressure ( psig )473.93
Applications
·Pentanes are some of the primary blowing agents used in the production of polystyrene foam and other foams. Usually, a mixture of n-, i-, and increasingly cyclopentane is used for this purpose.
·Because of its low boiling point, low cost, and relative safety, pentane is used as a working medium in geothermal power stations. It is added into some refrigerant blends as well.
·Pentanes are also used as an active ingredient in some pesticides.

Junyuan Petroleum Group is a renowned business entity, engaged in manufacturing and supplying of a wide range of Solvents and Chemicals. We offer the clients with n-Pentane, Isopentane, Pentane Blends, n-Hexane, Isohexane, n-Heptane, n-Octane and D solvents.

For a price quote or sales questions please send an email with your request to info@junyuanpetroleumgroup.com or call us at +8617810300898 (WhatsApp).

Geothermal Energy: Everything You Need To Know

When the reinjection temperature is in the range of 80°C to 160°C, according to the research Isopentane
and n-Pentane are the most suitable working fluids. Junyuan’s Isopentane and n-Pentane are the working fluid options for the binary cycle power plants in the world.

When the reinjection temperature is in the range of 80°C to 160°C, according to the research Isopentane
and n-Pentane are the most suitable working fluids. Junyuan's Isopentane and n-Pentane are the working fluid options for the binary cycle power plants in the world.

What are the different types of geothermal power plants?

There are three types of geothermal power plants: dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle. Dry steam power plants draw from underground resources of steam. The steam is piped directly from underground wells to the power plant, where it is directed into a turbine/generator unit.

How does binary cycle work in a geothermal power plant?

With binary cycle geothermal power plants, pumps are used to pump hot water from a geothermal well, through a heat exchanger, and the cooled water is returned to the underground reservoir. … The vapor exiting the turbine is then condensed by cold air radiators or cold water and cycled back through the heat exchanger.

How much power can a geothermal plant produce?Geothermal Power Plants are Compact

power plant that can generate 1 gigawatt (1,000 megawatts) per hour of electricity would take up a good deal of space.

What are the 3 ways to get geothermal energy?
Some applications of geothermal energy use the earth’s temperatures near the surface, while others require drilling miles into the earth. There are three main types of geothermal energy systems: Direct use and district heating systems. Geothermal power plants.

Which kind of geothermal plant is most common type?

Flash steam plantsFlash steam plants are the most common type of geothermal power generation plants in operation today.

How efficient is geothermal power?
The conversion efficiency of geothermal power developments is generally lower than that of all conventional thermal power plants. The highest reported conversion efficiency is approximately 21% at the Darajat vapour-dominated system, with a worldwide efficiency average of around 12%.

What are the disadvantages of geothermal energy?
Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy

  • Geothermal energy has high initial capital costs.
  • May release harmful gases.
  • Suited to a particular region.
  • Geothermal heat pumps have to be powered.
  • Geothermal sites may experience a dry spell.
  • Sustainability issues.
  • Can cause surface instability.
  • Extremely high temperatures required.

Top countries producing geothermal power

  • US. With an installed capacity of 3,639MW in 2018, the US is the leading producer of geothermal energy across the world, producing 16.7 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of geothermal energy throughout the year.
  • Indonesia.
  • Philippines.
  • Turkey.
  • New Zealand.
  • Mexico.
  • Italy.
  • Iceland.

Can geothermal produce electricity?
Geothermal energy can heat, cool, and generate electricityGeothermal energy can be used in different ways depending on the resource and technology chosen—heating and cooling buildings through geothermal heat pumps, generating electricity through geothermal power plants, and heating structures through direct-use.

How long do geothermal power plants last?
Geothermal systems are built to last a very long time. “The indoor components typically last about 25 years (compared with 15 years or less for a furnace or conventional AC unit) and more than 50 years for the ground loop,” The Family Handyman magazine reports.

What is one drawback of drilling geothermal wells?

The disadvantages of geothermal energy are mainly high initial capital costs. The cost of drilling wells to the geothermal reservoir is quite expensive. Taking into account the cost of heating and cooling system installation thereby surging extra costs.

How long does it take to build a geothermal plant?
Around two years. The geothermal project that started with only heating, such as Nesjavellir and Svartsengi, constructed within two years. Heating power plants are simpler and do not have the same long lead items as power producing plants and can therefore be assumed to take less time for the construction phase, around two years.

Why geothermal energy is bad?

Geothermal plants can release small amounts of greenhouse gases such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. Water that flows through underground reservoirs can pick up trace amounts of toxic elements such as arsenic, mercury, and selenium.

How deep do you have to dig for geothermal energy?

For a horizontal loop you only need to dig between 6 – 8 feet deep. For a vertical loop you need to drill between 250 and 300 feet deep.

Does Geothermal cool your house?

When it comes to efficiency, geothermal AC beats conventional central AC by far. As you can imagine, your geothermal heat pump will always be effective and efficient at cooling your home, even in the hottest summers. Installing a geothermal air conditioner can reduce your electricity use by 25 to 50 percent!

Who uses geothermal energy the most?

The United StatesGeothermal energy is generated in over 20 countries. The United States is the world’s largest producer, and the largest geothermal development in the world is The Geysers north of San Francisco in California. In Iceland, many of the buildings and even swimming pools are heated with geothermal hot water.

What are the basic parts of a geothermal plant to produce electricity?

The Turbine Drives the Electric Generator

Rotational energy from the turning turbine shaft is used directly to spin magnets inside a large coil and create electrical current. The turbine and generator are the primary pieces of equipment used to convert geothermal energy to electrical energy.

How much does geothermal energy cost per month?
This means that when he first installed his system, he was likely saving a small amount of money on his heating when compared with his propane bill. The homeowner said he was paying $150/month for propane, and if we deduce the average geothermal kWh use it would be around $138/month, a savings of $12/month.

How much does it cost to install a geothermal heating system?
On an average, a homeowner can expect to invest about $12,000 to $30,000 as geothermal heating and cooling cost. This cost would cover a complete geothermal installation. For large homes, the cost can range from $30,000 to $45,000 for high end ground source heat pump systems.

How warm does geothermal heating get?

Geothermal heat pumps can operate in any climate—hot or cold—because of the earth’s constant underground temperature (from 45° to 75° F depending on location). In fact, millions of GHP systems are already heating and cooling homes and businesses worldwide, and that includes all 50 U.S. states.

Is a geothermal system worth it?
geothermal heat pump can save you so much money in energy costs (while helping the environment) that you may be tempted to install one immediately. However, a geothermal heat pump is so expensive to install that you may be tempted to forget the whole thing.

Can you put geothermal in an existing home?
In a home with an existing forced-air system powered by propane, heating oil or natural gas, a geothermal system can use existing ductwork and mechanical spaces. If the existing furnace or boiler in a home is 20 years old or more, it may make sense to replace it with a geothermal system.

What is better solar or geothermal?
Climate will also dictate whether geothermal is a better option as the farther North you move, the more heat is needed during the winters. Because geothermal energy provides up to 500% efficiency compared to gas or oil heating, it’s highly recommended over solar power in colder areas.

What is the largest geothermal power plant in the world?
Geysers Geothermal ComplexThe Geysers Geothermal Complex, California, US – 1.2GW

The Geysers Geothermal Complex located 121km north of San Francisco, California, is comprised of 15 power plants making it the biggest geothermal installation in the world. The complex has an installed capacity of 1,205MW.

Who is the largest producer of geothermal energy in the world?Larderello Geothermal Complex, Italy

This complex is responsible for 10% of all geothermal energy that is produced worldwide, and is utilized for almost 27% of the power demands of the region.

What is the current status of geothermal energy in India?
The estimated potential for geothermal energy in India is about 10000 MW. There are seven geothermal provinces in India : the Himalayas, Sohana, West coast, Cambay, Son-Narmada-Tapi (SONATA), Godavari, and Mahanadi. 

Geothermal Energy Pros and Cons

Instead of using natural gas or oil and as an alternative to incurring high electricity bills, geothermal energy works to draw off the Earth’s constant core temperature to both heat and cool the home. At first glance, incorporating geothermal energy into a house or business would seem like a no-brainer and while there are definite cost and economic savings involved with the process, all that glitters isn’t gold. Here are the definitive geothermal energy pros and cons:

ProsCons
Environmentally friendly compared to gas or oil furnaces (no combustion).High upfront costs with implementing geothermal energy. ($10,000-$20,000)
Not a significant source of pollution.More suitable for new home builds as retrofitting involves large scale excavation.
Efficient (300- 500% compared to 90% of the best furnaces).Electricity is still needed to operate heat pumps.
Geothermal energy is a renewable resource as long as the Earth exists.Geothermal energy using wells requires an incredible usage of water.
Suitable for the smallest of houses to the largest commercial spaces.Discharge into the Earth could include sulfur dioxide and silica (well pumps).
No cost fluctuations determined by gas and oil prices.Fewer installers than standard HVAC and thus less competition.
30%-60% savings on heating and 25%-50% savings on cooling.Large scale geothermal power plants are dangerous to the Earth’s surface and location-centric.
Moving heat that already exists opposed to making new heat.Damage to underground loops (tree roots, rodents, etc.) can be difficult and costly to repair.
Mostly underground for a minimal landscape footprint.
Not weather dependent like solar or wind power; geothermal heat pumps work year-round.
Heating systems won’t dangerously turn off when out of gas or oil like standard furnaces.
Installation is eligible for tax cuts.
Quieter operation because of no outdoor compressor or fan.
Long lifespan (25 years for indoor components, 50+ for underground loop system).
Fewer moving parts mean minimal maintenance issues.
Smallest carbon footprint of any heating or cooling source.
Technology behind geothermal energy will only continue to improve in efficiency.
Provides either base load or peak power energy output.

All-in-all, there are plenty of benefits as well as some downfalls of integrating geothermal energy into your commercial or residential property. It’s highly unlikely that geothermal energy will become irrelevant or impossible. It will remain as a nice implementation if it fits your landscape, location, and budget.

Keywords: geothermal, binary cycle, npentane, thermal waste, brine, turbine, isopentane

Geothermal Energy Potential in the Caribbean Region

Although geothermal resources are abundant on several of the
islands, apart from Guadeloupe which has a 4.5 MWe binary
plant, geothermal development is still in the early stages for
several reasons:

  1. Geothermal development is not a priority in the energy policies
    of the island governments. Traditionally, the islands have
    depended on diesel generation, with the exceptions of
    Dominica and St.Vincent which use hydroelectric power.
  2. None of the countries have geothermal laws; many do not have
    laws for the regulation of the electricity sector in particular.
  3. Limited financing and the high cost of geothermal exploration
    has held back the projects in the feasibility stage.
  4. There are no economic incentives for geothermal development.
  5. The population, and consequently the markets, of the islands
    are small.

Geothermal Energy Potential
Huttrer ranks the islands, in order of development potential, as follows:

  1. Guadeloupe
  2. St. Lucia
  3. Dominica
  4. St. Vincent
  5. Nevis
  6. Saba
  7. St. Kitts
  8. Grenada
  9. Martinique
  10. Montserrat
  11. Statia
    Geothermal power could almost
    surely be sold to the utilities for
    less than the 12 -15¢/kWh cost of
    generation now estimated by the
    various utility companies, and the
    prospect of initiating significant
    savings is appealing to government
    officials as well as the citizens-onthe-streets (Huttrer, 1998).

Dominica
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
• Dominica has an estimated 1,390 MWe of
geothermal power potential. Geothermal
development is important as a substitute for
diesel generation and to supply Dominica’s
increasing base load demand.
• The French institute of geological
investigations and mines, Bureau de
Recherches Géologiques et Minières
(BRGM), began the first integrated
exploration of Dominica’s geothermal
resources in 1977, identifying three areas of
interest: Watten Waven, Boiling Lake, and
Soufrière.
• 13th March 2008, Government launched a
250 Million Euro Geothermal Project titled
“Preparations of a geo-thermal based cross
border electrical interconnection in the
Caribbean.”

Grenada
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
•Grenada has an estimated 1,110 MWe of
geothermal power potential. OLADE
observed a possible resource of high
enthalpy in the area of Mount Saint
Catherine in 1981 which was later
confirmed in 1992 as part of the
UN/DTCD program.
•Prefeasibility studies have revealed one
small solfatara on Mount Saint Catherine,
several small thermal springs in ravines
radial to the central volcano, and numerous
relatively young phreatic explosion craters.
Additionally, the sub-sea volcano “Kickem-Jenny” lies only five miles off
Grenada’s north coast suggesting that the
zone between it and the central
northeastern part of the island may be of
geothermal interest.

Guadeloupe
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
•Guadeloupe has an estimated 3,500 MWe
of geothermal power potential.
Guadeloupe has the only geothermal
power plant in the Caribbean, a 4.5 MWe
double flash power plant at Bouillante
which came online in 1984 and supplies
the leeward coast of Basse-Terre with
electricity.
•The plant has been generating at an
average rate of 4.7 MWe. The Bouillante
plant had intermittent problems caused by
relatively high amounts of noncondensable gases and associated H2S04,
which seem to have been mitigated by
Compagnie Française de Géothermie
(CFG) (Huttrer, 1998).
•There are plans to expand the Bouillante
plant.

Martinique
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
•The very active Mt. Pele
comprises an obvious locus for
geothermal resources. There are
solfataras, hot springs,
underlying earthquake activity,
and well developed fracture
systems (Huttrer, 1998).
•Martinique has an estimated
3,500 MWe of geothermal
power potential.
•There are plans to set up a
geothermal plant in Martinique
(Lawrence, 1998).

Montserrat
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
•Montserrat has an estimated 940
MWe of geothermal power
potential.
•Even before the 1995 eruption,
the southwestern flank of the
Soufrière Hills Volcano was the
site of solfataric activity and of
numerous thermal springs.
•There was also significant
seismic activity, and several
well developed fracture systems
transecting the volcano (Huttrer,
1998.

Netherland Antilles
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
• The Netherlands Antilles have an
estimated 3,000 MWe of geothermal
power potential. Saba is a small island
comprising a central volcano with at least
15 andesitic domes on its flanks. There is a
record of volcanic eruption(s) less than
1000 years ago and there are numerous hot
springs along the shoreline and just off
shore.
• The island is highly fractured, some hot
springs temperatures have risen in the last
40 years. INEEL, GMC, and USGIC
prepared a preliminary assessment of the
potential for the development of
geothermal resources of Saba and Statia
under a DOE sponsored program.
• While some heat probably remains
beneath The Quill on Statia there are no
known hot springs or paleo-thermal
areas on the island (Huttrer, 1998).

Saint Kitts & Nevis
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
•St. Kitts and Nevis have an estimated 50 MWe
of geothermal power potential. INEEL, GMC,
and USGIC prepared a preliminary assessment
of the potential for the development of
geothermal resources of St. Kitts and Nevis
under a DOE sponsored program.
•There are encouraging geothermal indicia at
five places on Nevis. On Nevis’s western and
southern sides there are two solfataras,
numerous thermal wells, and a large area of
hydrothermal alteration.
•On St. Kitts, though there are moderately large
areas of steaming ground in the crater of Mount
Liamuiga, as well as thermal springs along the
western shoreline, the geothermal indicia are
less well-defined than on the other islands
(Huttrer, 1998).

Saint Lucia
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
• St. Lucia has an estimated 680 MWe of geothermal power
potential.
• In the 1980s, Aquater (Italy), Los Alamos National
Laboratory (funded by USAID), and the UN Revolving Fund
for Natural Resources Exploration (UN/RFNR) conducted
prefeasibility studies which included drilling production-size
exploratory wells.
• The second of two wells drilled by a team led by Italian
geothermists found what appeared to be an economically
exploitable resource. Unfortunately, this well suffered
mechanical failures and the produced steam was never
harnessed to generate power.
• More recently, INEEL, GMC, and USGIC prepared a
preliminary assessment of the potential for the development
of geothermal resources of St. Lucia under a DOE sponsored
program.
• Geothermal indicia on St. Lucia comprise a very large
solfatara near the village of Soufrière, numerous thermal
springs, and very recent volcanic activity including both
phreatic and pyroclastic eruptions (Huttrer, 1998).

Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines have an estimated
890 MWe of geothermal power potential.
• St. Vincent’s geothermal potential has not been
formally studied. INEEL, GMC, and USGIC
prepared a preliminary assessment of the potential
for the development of geothermal resources of St.
Vincent under a DOE sponsored program.
• La Soufrière volcano has erupted three times since
1902, there is a steaming resurgent dome in the
crater and there are numerous hot springs in river
valleys on the western side of the volcano (Huttrer,
1998). Of additional interest are three striking
features near Wallibou Beach, in an area locally
known as “Hot Waters,” and a circular feature near
Morgans Wood near Trinity Falls (Huttrer, 1995).

Bibliography
•Battocletti, Liz. 1999. Database of Geothermal Resources in Latin American & the Caribbean. Bob Lawrence & Associates Inc. for Sandia National
Laboratories under Contract No. AS-0989.
•Barthelmy, Aloysius (1990). “The Economics of Geothermal Power in Saint Lucia, West Indies,” Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, Vol.
14, Part 1, August 1990, pp. 477-481.
•———— (1990). “Overview of Geothermal Exploration in Saint Lucia, West Indies,” Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, Vol. 14, Part 1,
August 1990, pp. 227-234.
•“Caribbean Geothermal Potential” (1998). The U.S. Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies, Vol. 3, Issue 4, November, p. 4.
•D’Archimbaud, Jean Demians and Jean-Pierre Munier-Jolain (1975). “Geothermal Exploration Progress at Bouillante in Guadeloupe,” Second United
Nations Symposium. Berkeley, CA; Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory; Volume 1, Issue: May, pp. 105-107.
•Demange, Jacques et al. (1995). “The Use of Low- Enthalpy Geothermal Energy in France,” Proceedings of the World Geothermal Congress, 1995,
Florence, Italy: International Geothermal Association, pp. 105-114.
•Gandino, A. et al. (1985). “Preliminary Evaluation of Soufriere, Geothermal Field, St. Lucia (Lesser Antilles),” Geothermics, Pergamon Press plc,
Volume 14, No. 4, pp. 577-590.
•Huttrer, Gerald W. (1995). “A Report Describing Airphoto Lineaments On and Near Soufrière Volcano, St. Vincent, W.I.” Prepared for Lockheed
Idaho Technologies Company under Purchase Order No. C95-175738.
•———— (1995). “A Report Describing the Results of a Literature Search and Review of the Geology of St. Vincent, W.I..” Prepared for Lockheed
Idaho Technologies Company under Purchase Order No. C95-175738.
•———— (1996). Final Report Regarding Prefeasibility Studies of the Potential for Geothermal Development, St. Vincent, W.I. Work supported in
part by Lockheed Idaho Technologies Company under Subcontract C95-175738 and by the U.S. Department of Energy under DOE Idaho Operations
Office Contract DEAC07-94ID13223.
•———— (1998). “Geothermal Small Power Generation Opportunities in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean Sea,” Presented at the “Geothermal
Off-Grid Power Workshop” sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Geothermal Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, and the
Geothermal Resources Council, Reno, Nevada, December 2-4.
•———— (1995). “Trip Report: Pre-Feasibility Studies of the Potential for Geothermal Development in St. Vincent, W.I.” Submitted to US/ECRE
under the terms of Cost Reimbursable Assistance Subagreement No. AID T-94-09-01 under USAID Cooperative Agreement No. LAG- 5730-A-00-
3049-00.
•Jaudin, Florence (1994). “Bouillante Exploitation, “ IGA News, Number 19, October-December 1994 (see also
http://www.demon.co.uk/geosci/wrguadel.html). Meridian Corporation (1987). “Focus on St. Lucia: A Geothermal International Series,” Prepared for
Los Alamos National Laboratory under Contract No. 9-X36-3652C.
•Rivera, R.J. et al. (1990). “Geothermal Project at St. Lucia (W.I.) — A Preliminary Assessment of the Resource,” Proceedings: Fifteenth Workshop on
Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, Stanford, CA; Stanford University; January 23-25, 1990; pp. 147-159.
•Saba Tourist Bureau, http://www.turq.com/saba, Turquoise Systems Group.
•St. Eustatius Tourist Bureau, http://www.turq.com/statia, Turquoise Systems Group.

Why Pentane in Geothermal?

  • Primarily, pentane is used to create a blowing agent which is then used to create a foam known as polystyrene. Polystyrene is used to make insulation materials for refrigerators and heating pipes. As well, pentane is used in geothermal power stations as a binary fluid, due to its low boiling point (36 o C).
  • Boiling Point: 36oC
  • Formula: C₅H₁₂
  • Melting Point: -130oC
  • Molar mass: 72.15 grams/mole

Geothermal power generation must operate with whatever temperature is found in a particular well. Water and steam work well at high temperatures. At lower temperatures, a “binary system” may sometimes provide better efficiency.

In a binary system, the hot fluid from the geothermal source is used to heat a second, lower boiling point fluid (in this case, pentane) to convert it to gas and drive a turbine. The nature of pentane allows the whole cycle (fluid to gas, drive the power generation turbine, and condense to fluid) to take place efficiently at a lower temperature.

At this location, a binary system is being used to squeeze additional power from the hot condensate leaving a primary water/steam turbine. Using an additional set of heat exchangers this energy is captured to heat low boiling point pentane and to drive an additional turbine. The pentane system harnesses more of the energy brought out of the ground.

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