Geothermal Power Plant Improves Production Capacity Using Online Clean

GoalReduce frequency of shut downs for cleaning.

<h6>Customer Challenge</h6> <p>A geothermal power generating facility located in New Zealand was challenged with stibnite deposits forming in its binary plant. The plant was forced to shut down and be mechanically cleaned or taken offline to be chemically cleaned. Apart from the safety issues around this potentially carcinogenic deposit, the costs and plant disruption was significant.</p> <h6>Recommended Solution</h6> <p>Solenis developed a method whereby the stibnite deposits and silica deposits could be removed, while the plant remained in full operation. The challenge was to dissolve the deposits but not induce secondary deposition caused by caustic and keep the deposits transportable through the reinjection system. The solution is a combination of operational and chemical processes.</p> <h6>Results Achieved</h6> <p>The new cleaning program has led to cleans being carried out far less frequently leading to a reduction in costs, which maintains a higher overall plant production capacity. Maintenance costs and downtime has decreased significantly and the risk of contamination and human exposure to the toxic deposits is eliminated.</p> <p><img style="max-width: 100%; width: auto; height: auto;" src="/link/9eb4cfeff17d4614b824b16e4022a82c.aspx" alt="" width="1100" height="734" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;">Clean heat exchanger surfaces have improved heat exchange&nbsp;efficiency and delivered increased power generation</p>