An existing air-cooled binary geothermal power plant in northern Nevada is studied. The current performance of the plant is analyzed with an emphasis on the effects of seasonal climate changes. Two potential sites have been identified to improve the performance of the plant. Northern Nevada has a dry climate, particularly in hot summer months, and the temperature of cooling air can be decreased considerably by evaporative cooling. When the air temperature is decreased to the wet-bulb temperature, the decrease in the condenser temperature is determined to increase the power output by up to 29 percent. The required amount of water for this case is calculated to be about 200,000 tons per yr. Several parametric studies are performed by simulating the operation of the plant with an equation solver with built-in thermophysical property functions. It is determined that the net power output of the plant can be increased by 2.8 percent by optimizing the maximum pressure in the cycle. Also, replacing the existing working fluid isobutane by other commonly used binary fluids such as butane, R-114, isopentane, and pentane do not produce as much of an improvement in the plant performance as operating with isobutane at the optimum maximum pressure. Therefore, isobutane appears to be the best choice for this power plant.
Skip Nav Destination
yunus@scs.unr.edu
Article navigation
September 1999
Technical Papers
Improving the Performance of an Existing Air-Cooled Binary Geothermal Power Plant: A Case Study
M. Kanog˘lu,
M. Kanog˘lu
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Celal Bayar University, 45140 Muradiye, Manisa, Turkey
Search for other works by this author on:
Y. A. C¸engel
Y. A. C¸engel
Department of Mechanical Engineering/312, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557
yunus@scs.unr.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
M. Kanog˘lu
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Celal Bayar University, 45140 Muradiye, Manisa, Turkey
Y. A. C¸engel
Department of Mechanical Engineering/312, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557
yunus@scs.unr.edu
J. Energy Resour. Technol. Sep 1999, 121(3): 196-202 (7 pages)
Published Online: September 1, 1999
Article history
Received:
June 20, 1998
Revised:
June 15, 1999
Online:
November 6, 2007
Citation
Kanog˘lu, M., and C¸engel, Y. A. (September 1, 1999). "Improving the Performance of an Existing Air-Cooled Binary Geothermal Power Plant: A Case Study." ASME. J. Energy Resour. Technol. September 1999; 121(3): 196–202. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2795982
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Numerical Study of Composite Percussive Drilling With Consideration of Heat Transfer Between Drilling Fluid and Bottom-Hole Rock in Geothermal Drilling
J. Energy Resour. Technol (June 2023)
An Investigation of the Impact of Combustion Chamber Geometry on Turbulent Burning Speeds in a Thermodynamic Model
J. Energy Resour. Technol (June 2023)
Synergy in Syngas Yield From Co-Pyrolysis of Cow and Chicken Manures
J. Energy Resour. Technol (June 2023)
Related Articles
Evaporation-Cooling for Pure-Water Systems for Turbine-Generator Gas and Oil Coolers
Trans. ASME (October,1947)
Novel Combined Power and Cooling Thermodynamic Cycle for Low Temperature Heat Sources, Part II: Experimental Investigation
J. Sol. Energy Eng (May,2003)
Organic Working Fluids for a Combined Power and Cooling Cycle
J. Energy Resour. Technol (June,2005)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Combined Cycle Power Plant
Energy and Power Generation Handbook: Established and Emerging Technologies
Engineering and Physical Modeling of Power Plant Cooling Systems
Thermal Power Plant Cooling: Context and Engineering
Threshold Functions
Closed-Cycle Gas Turbines: Operating Experience and Future Potential