Predicting The Locations and Thicknesses of Silica Deposition at MGPF Site C

Predicting the Locations and Thicknesses of
Silica Deposition at SV600/SV601 Brine and

Dump Lines at MGPF Site C
prepared by
Pedro L. Lite, Jr.

Cayetano C. Saguban, Jr.
Remife V. De Guzman
Energy Management and Services Section
Energy Research and Development Department
and
Joselito P. Villena
Dennis Noel G. de Lara
Power Engineering and Technical Information Systems Section
Power Department
July 14, 2006
Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corporation
Taguig, Metro Manila

Philippines
ERDD and PD PNOC-EDC
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................3
2. Objectives .....................................................................................................................................3
3. Methodology..................................................................................................................................4
3.1 Data Gathering Procedure ................................................................................................4
3.2 Calculation Procedure .......................................................................................................5
4. Results and Discussions ...............................................................................................................7
5. Conclusions and Recommendations.............................................................................................9
6. Acknowledgment...........................................................................................................................9
7. References....................................................................................................................................9
8. Appendix .....................................................................................................................................10
8.1 Surface Temperature Measurements..............................................................................10
8.2 SV600 Silica Deposit Thickness Calculations .................................................................11
8.3 SV601 Silica Deposit Thickness Calculations .................................................................15
8.4 A Model for Finding the Thickness of Silica Deposits .....................................................19
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Predicting the Locations and Thicknesses of Silica Page 2 of 21
Deposition at SV600/SV601 Brine and Dump Lines July 14, 2006
at MGPF Site C RVDG/CCS/PLL and DNGDL/JPV
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1. Introduction
Silica deposition on the inside walls of geothermal brine and dump lines is a perennial
problem in the operation and maintenance of fluid collection and disposal systems. Silica in
brine can accumulate to a thick layer that blocks pipes and hampers re-injection of brine into
wells and dumping of brine from separator vessels. Its removal from the pipe inside walls is a
major maintenance activity that requires shutting off the affected lines and cutting off the pipe
portion/s where serious deposition is suspected and is to be removed.
Following the request of MGPF’s M.V. Daza, the PNOC-EDC energy audit team
composed of engineers from the Energy Research and Development Department (ERDD), the
Transmission and Dispatch Department (TDD), and the Power Department (PD) conducted a
surface temperature survey of the brine and dump lines of SV600 and SV601 at M2GPF Site C
in an attempt to determine the locations and approximate the thicknesses of silica deposition on
the said lines. The activity was conducted on April 27, 2006.
Approximation of the locations and thicknesses of silica deposits based on pipe surface
temperatures is based on the premise that the presence of silica has the effect of decreasing
the effective thermal conductivity of the pipe; hence portions with thick silica deposits will tend to
have much lower surface temperatures than those without or with very thin deposits. Steady-
state conditions were also assumed where heat flow through the silica and pipe layers equals
the heat flow from the pipe surface to the ambient.
This report discusses the results, observations, analysis, and recommendations based
on the surface temperature measurements and silica thickness calculations. Thermal images of
the brine and dump lines are also provided in this report.
2. Objectives
This activity aims to determine the locations of thick silica deposits in M2GPF FCRS
SV600 and SV601 brine and dump lines and to approximate the thicknesses in those locations.
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3. Methodology
3.1 Data Gathering Procedure
The parameters measured during the survey of the brine and dump lines are the
1) surface temperatures of the pipes at various points, and 2) ambient temperatures.
Pipe surface temperatures were measured at the top (T), bottom (B), right (R) and left
(L) sides. Pipe details such as class and diameter were also noted and verified against
the piping diagrams. Two instruments were used in measuring the pipe surface
temperatures. One is a surface probe thermometer and the other is a thermal scanner.
Ambient temperatures were measured using the surface probe.
Thermal images were taken during the temperature survey. Figure 1 shows that
thick silica deposits are likely to occur on the merging portions of both dump lines from
SV600 and SV601.
Figure 1. Thermal image of dump lines of SV600 and SV601.
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Figure 2 shows the location of the measuring points for SV600 (top portions) and
SV601 (bottom portions). The points in this diagram are those indicated in the tables
showing the calculated thickness of silica deposits.
Figure 2. Measuring points for SV600 and SV601.
3.2 Calculation Procedure

The formula for finding the thickness of silica deposits is dependent on, among
others, the thermal conductivities of the pipe and silica. The values for the thermal
conductivity of carbon steel are based on the values provided by Kaye [1]. For silica
deposits, the values are based on those provided by Perry [2] and are not specific for
amorphous silica from geothermal brine. The following formula obtained from reference
[3] was used to calculate the thickness of silica deposits:
⎛ ⎛ k sil
⎜
⎞
⎟ ⎞
⎜ ⎛ ro ⎞⎜⎝ kpipe ⎟
⎠ ⎟
⎜ ⎜ ⎟ ⎟
t = ri ⎜ 1 − ⎝ ri ⎠ ⎟ (1)
⎜ ⎛ ksil ⎞⎛ T1 −T2 ⎞ ⎟
⎜ ⎜⎜ r h ⎟⎜
⎟⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ o ⎠⎝ T2 −Tair ⎠ ⎟
⎝ e ⎠
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The derivation of equation (1) can be found in Appendix 8.4. Conduction and
convection heat losses were considered in the derivation. If radiation heat losses were
also considered, the calculated values of the thickness would be lower. Figure 3 shows
the schematic diagram of the derivation.
t ( ri − t ) ri ro ri
( ri − t ) ro
L R
Tair T1
T2
flow direction
inside the pipe B
Figure 3. Schematic diagram in the derivation of the formula for the thickness of silica deposit.
Table 1 shows the meanings of the variables used in equation (1) and the source
of data. Note that T1 is based on the highest surface temperature measured.
Table 1
Meanings of the Variables Used and Source of Data in the Calculation of the Silica Thickness
Variable Meaning Source of Data

t thickness of silica Calculated from equation (1)
ri inside radius of pipe ( without silica ) Piping diagrams
ro outside radius of pipe Piping diagrams
kpipe thermal conductivity of pipe Reference [1]
ksil thermal conductivity of silica Reference [2]
h convection coefficient Reference [4]
T1 temperature of inside surface of silica Highest surface temperature measured
T2 temperature of outside surface of pipe Appendix 8.1
Tair ambient temperature of air Appendices 8.2 and 8.3
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4. Results and Discussions

Table 2a shows the thickness of silica deposits on measuring points in the SV600 brine line. Table 2b shows the thickness of
silica deposits on measuring points in the SV600 dump line. The derivation of these values can be found in Appendix 8.2.
As can be seen in Table 2b, the thickest silica deposition for SV600 dump line can be found at those portions corresponding
to measuring points 13, 14, 15 and 16. The thickness values calculated for these portions range from 2.950 to 3.374 in. Note that the
surface temperatures on these portions are from 77.3 to 85.7°C only, whereas the temperatures on those areas with deposits of less
than 1 in are from 125 to 144.4°C. The bottom portions of points 11 and 12, also has considerably thick deposits with calculated
values of 1.678 and 1.919. All the other dump line and brine line points have thickness values of less than 1 in.
Table 2a
Thickness of Silica Deposits at Various Measuring Points in the SV600 Brine Line
Top Bottom Right Left
Average
Measuring Surface Surface Surface Surface
Thickness Thickness Thickness Thickness Thickness
Point Temperature Temperature Temperature Temperature
°C in °C in °C in °C in in
1 130.6 0.753 136.1 0.540 132.5 0.678 134.6 0.597 0.642
6 140.6 0.376 144.0 0.259 138.5 0.452 140.8 0.369 0.364
7 146.0 0.192 146.0 0.192 151.3 0.024 142.7 0.303 0.178
8 150.4 0.052 138.3 0.459 143.3 0.283 150.4 0.052 0.212
Table 2b
Thickness of Silica Deposits at Various Measuring Points in the SV600 Dump Line
Average
1 130.6 0.753 136.1 0.540 132.5 0.678 134.6 0.597 0.642
4a 136.4 0.529 0.529
4b 143 0.293 144.4 0.245 140.5 0.380 139.4 0.419 0.334
11 139.6 0.412 110 1.678 137.3 0.495 133 0.658 0.811
12 133.1 0.654 105.2 1.919 125.2 0.976 127.5 0.880 1.107
13 79.2 3.282 84.1 3.033 83.2 3.080 3.132
14 84.2 3.028 83 3.090 84.4 3.018 85.4 2.965 3.025
15 77.3 3.374 85.7 2.950 85.4 2.965 81.3 3.177 3.117
16 83 3.090 85.2 2.976 81.6 3.162 84.3 3.023 3.063
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Table 3a shows the thickness of silica deposits on measuring points in the SV601 brine line. Table 3b shows the thickness of
silica deposits on measuring points in the SV601 dump line. The derivation of these values can be found in Appendix 8.3.
For SV601 dump line in Table 3b, the portions which have the most significant silica deposition based on the calculations are
those corresponding to measuring points 13, 14, 15, and 16. Calculated thicknesses of silica deposits in these portions range from
2.974 to 3.648 in. The surface temperatures of these portions are from 72.2 to 86.5°C. Intermediate silica deposits of thickness 1.104
to 1.421 in, on the other hand, are indicated in points 1 and 6 of the brine line.
Table 3a
Thickness of Silica Deposits at Various Measuring Points in the SV601 Brine Line

Average
1 117.2 1.421 137.1 0.591 120.3 1.280 130.8 0.834 1.032
6 117.8 1.393 125 1.074 124.3 1.104 119.8 1.302 1.219
7 148.6 0.193 136.4 0.617 131.8 0.794 140.7 0.460 0.516
8 152.2 0.080 132.4 0.770 145.2 0.304 132.3 0.774 1.928
Table 3b
Thickness of Silica Deposits at Various Measuring Points in the SV601 Dump Line

Average
1 117.2 1.421 137.1 0.591 120.3 1.280 130.8 0.834 1.032
11 135.3 0.658 128 0.948 131 0.826 131.9 0.790 0.806
12 138.3 0.546 133.3 0.735 134.6 0.685 140 0.485 0.613
13 72.2 3.648 84.1 3.096 73.8 3.581 3.442
14 84.4 3.081 78.3 3.379 81.4 3.230 85.2 3.040 3.183
15 81.3 3.235 81.2 3.240 82.7 3.166 84.1 3.096 3.184
16 81.6 3.220 82.5 3.176 85.8 3.009 86.5 2.974 3.095
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5. Conclusions and Recommendations

There are portions on the brine and dump lines of SV600 and SV601 which have very
low pipe surface temperatures. This means that silica deposits have accumulated on these
portions.
For the SV600 brine line, the range of thicknesses is from 0.024” to 0.753”.
For the SV600 dump line, the range of thicknesses is from 0.245” to 3.374”.
For the SV601 brine line, the range of thicknesses is from 0.080” to 1.421”.
For the SV601 dump line, the range of thicknesses is from 0.485” to 3.648”.
Therefore, in general, the silica deposits are thicker inside the dump lines. It is hereby
recommended that these portions be cut open to remove these silica deposits and prevent
further blockage of flow along these lines.
The audit group also suggests that the actual thermal conductivity of the silica deposit be
calculated (by manipulating the above formula for the thickness of silica deposits) using the
actual thickness of the silica deposits (Before cutting the lines, surface and ambient temperature
data must be gathered first). The thermal conductivities obtained from these calculations can be
used for the next activities to approximate the thickness of silica deposits.
6. Acknowledgment
The energy audit team would like to thank the men and women of MGPF who extended
their help and accommodation during the conduct of the energy audit. The invaluable help of Mr.
Noel D. Baldeviso and Mr. Salindo F. Fortin of the Operations and Maintenance Groups, TDD,
is also hereby acknowledged. Mr. Baldeviso and Mr. Fortin operated the thermal scanner and
gathered thermal images of the brine and dump lines at SV600 and SV601 at various points.
These images were very helpful in the evaluation of the state of silica deposition in those lines.
7. References
[1] Kaye, G.W.C. and Laby, T.H. Tables of Physical and Chemical Constants and Some
Mathematical Functions, 14th edition.
[2] Perry’s Chemical Engineers’ Handbook.
[3] Villena, J.P. and de Lara, D.N.G. A Model for Finding the Thickness of Silica
Deposit. May 19, 2006
[4] Chopey, N.P. Handbook of Chemical Engineering Calculations, 3rd ed. 2004
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8. Appendix
8.1 Surface Temperature Measurements
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8.2 SV600 Silica Deposit Thickness Calculations
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8.3 SV601 Silica Deposit Thickness Calculations
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8.4 A Model for Finding the Thickness of Silica Deposits
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Predicting The Locations and Thicknesses of Silica Deposition at MGPF Site C

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Predicting the Locations and Thicknesses of

Silica Deposition at SV600/SV601 Brine and

Pedro L. Lite, Jr.

July 14, 2006

Philippine National Oil Company-Energy Development Corporation

Taguig, Metro Manila

5. Conclusions and Recommendations.............................................................................................9

Figure 1. Thermal image of dump lines of SV600 and SV601.

Figure 2. Measuring points for SV600 and SV601.

3.2 Calculation Procedure

Variable Meaning Source of Data

4. Results and Discussions

Top Bottom Right Left

Top Bottom Right Left

5. Conclusions and Recommendations

8.2 SV600 Silica Deposit Thickness Calculations

8.3 SV601 Silica Deposit Thickness Calculations

8.4 A Model for Finding the Thickness of Silica Deposits

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