In this paper an analytical investigation has been reported on determination of the optimum flashing pressures to get maximum efficiency in flash geothermal power plants. Also, two different views on efficiency have been considered; thermal efficiency and exergy efficiency. Both views anticipate very close optimum flashing pressure and in this pressure, exergy efficiency is between 3 to 5.5 times more than thermal efficiency. It is observed that the optimum flashing pressure in a single flash power plant is between the optimum flashing pressures of two separators in a double flash power plant. Also both views predict an increase of 20–29 percent for the efficiency of double flash power plants than the efficiency of single flash power plants.

Volume Subject Area:
Heat Transfer in Energy Systems
Topics:
Flashing, Geothermal power stations, Pressure, Power stations, Exergy, Thermal efficiency
This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright © 2008
 by ASME
You do not currently have access to this content.