THE COMMISSIONING OF AN INTEGRATED HEAT PUMP-ASSISTED GEOTHERMAL BRINE PURIFICATION SYSTEM

In a previous work, a packaged commercial heat pump was coupled to a g eothermal brine purification system. Subsequently, a new compact heat pump-assisted purification system was fabricated which involved the el imination of two heat exchangers and a reduction in the amount of tubi ng; this resulted in higher efficiencies due to lower temperature diff erences in the heat exchangers. The quality of the distilled water obt ained from the geothermal brine was similar to commercially available distilled water with respect to chlorides and silica. A coefficient of performance (COP) of 4.5 was achieved with a brine boiling temperatur e of 63 degrees C. Higher COPs could be achieved with a higher compres sor efficiency. The process shows considerable promise for future deve lopment.