Design and off design pipe network geothermal power plant analysis with power pipe simulator

One of the biggest problems when analysing pipe network behaviour is the di fficulty in accounting for the actual components features, as some conditio ns change in relation to the designed one. This problem occurs, for example , when some power machines, like turbines or pumps, are connected to the pi pes. In fact, for these devices, one how rate value corresponds to each pre ssure value and vice versa. For this reason, the pipe network operating poi nts depend on both pipe geometry and the physical behaviour of the other co mponents. Furthermore, when hot and multi-component fluids are considered, thermal loss and composition calculations are required to correctly evaluat e pipe behaviour. In the following, a simulation code developed by the auth or (Power Pipe) has been applied to a real geothermal power plant in which the wells can be considered as expanders, and the power unit is a steam tur bine plant. Design and off design analyses have been performed by accountin g for the exergetic loss of the system components. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.