Tag Isopenane

How is isopentane used in geothermal power plants?

Geothermal power plants are facilities that use the heat from the earth to generate electricity. Geothermal power plants can be classified into three types: dry steam, flash steam, and binary cycle.

Dry steam power plants use steam from underground reservoirs to drive turbines directly. Flash steam power plants use high-pressure hot water from underground reservoirs to produce steam by lowering the pressure. Binary cycle power plants use low-temperature hot water from underground reservoirs to heat another fluid with a lower boiling point, such as isopentane, to produce vapor that drives turbines.

Isopentane is a type of hydrocarbon that has a branched chain of five carbon atoms. Isopentane has a low boiling point (28°C) and a high vapor pressure (0.7 MPa at 25°C). This means that isopentane can easily vaporize and expand when heated by the geothermal water, creating a high-pressure gas that can spin the turbines efficiently.

The advantages of using isopentane in geothermal power plants are:

  • Isopentane has a higher thermal efficiency than water, meaning that it can produce more electricity from the same amount of heat.
  • Isopentane has a lower freezing point than water, meaning that it can prevent the pipes and equipment from freezing in cold climates.
  • Isopentane is non-corrosive and non-toxic, meaning that it can reduce the environmental impact and the maintenance cost of the power plants.

Isopentane is widely used in binary cycle geothermal power plants, especially in low-temperature geothermal fields, such as in Iceland, China, and the United States. Isopentane can help to utilize the geothermal energy more effectively and sustainably, contributing to a clean and renewable energy future. 

Isopentane Price Update – 08:54•2023/04/18

SINOPETROCHEM reported on April 17: The price of isopentane (purity>95, water<20ppm, sulfur<1ppm, acid value<2ppm) is stable in the Chinese market, and it is mainly used in polyethylene plants and LNG fields.

Daily Price Changes – Thursday, 11/05/2020

  • The price of pentane blends is stable at present.
  • The Chinese market for n-Pentane, Isopentane, Pentane Blends/pentane blowing/foaming agent, n-Heptane market inquiries are active.
  • The price of n-Heptane in the Chinese market rose slightly, which supported the market. The supply of n-Heptane is in short supply, and the market is slightly firm.
  • The Solvent Oil/D Series fluid market in China is still weak, and the price may continue to move downward. At present, the inventory of solvent oil raw materials is relatively sufficient, the intention of large-scale purchase is not high, and the export is also reduced. The domestic inventory is facing the risk of recovery, in the near future, the market price will decrease slightly.
  • At present, the transaction price of high purity n-Hexane is on the high side in the Chinese market, and the orders of various manufacturers are still relatively concentrated. Moreover, all factories need to carry out annual maintenance, and the stock shortage situation is persistent. Moreover, the market price of n-Hexane raw materials is too high, which leads to the shortage situation in the short term, and the price keeps rising steadily.
  • At present, the volume of n-Octane in the Chinese market is scarce, the market price is falling, and the orders are scarce.

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