Performance Tests of the Radial Outflow Reaction Turbine for Geothermal Applications

摘要

A unique pure reaction turbine, for geothermal applications, has been developed. This radial outflow reaction turbine (RORT) is designed specifically to produce power from the expansion of saturated or compressed liquid at temperatures of less than 180 exp 0 C. In the tests reported here the highest efficiency measured was 32.7%, clearly below the peak efficiency for this small machine. Extrapolations to larger machines indicate that an efficiency near 50% is a credible goal, an attractive performance as either a Total Flow expander for liquid or in conjunction with conventional flashed steam systems. A rough cost estimate indicates that a 7.5 MW RORT would cost somewhere between 0.5 M$ and 1.5 M$, and could add about 15% increase in the power output of a conventional 50 MW plant. This means that for less than a 3% increase in capital cost the bus bar energy cost can be reduced by about 10%. Another important result is that the RORT is uniquely suited for conversion of the thermal and pressure energy components in the geopressured resources. The development and proof of feasibility of efficient liquid expanders broadens the opportunities for economic power production from lower temperature geothermal resources, and possibly utilization of waste heat in industrial processes. (ERA citation 04:002998)