Formulas

1. Throttling process from 1 to 2:

Hf = H2 = Hf2 + xHfg2

X = quality after throttling

2. Mass flow rate of steam and ground water:
Ms = x(Mg)

Where: Ms = mass of steam flow

Mg = mass of ground water
3. Turbine output, Wt
Wt = Ms(H3 -H4)Nt

Where: Nt = Turbine efficiency

4. Heat rejected in condenser, Qr
Qr = Ms(H4 – H5)

5. Generator efficiency:

Generator efficiency = generator output/Turbine output

6. Condenser cooling water requirement:

Mw = Ms(H4 – H5)/Cp(T2 – T1)

Ms = mass of cooling water requirement

TERMS

Magna – molten metal with the earth which is basically nickel-iron in composition
whose stored energy heats the surrounding water thereby producing steam or hot
water.

Well-bored product – the effluent coming out from the geothermal well as produced
after drilling. This can be purely steam or hot water, or a mixture of both.

Steam-dominated geothermal power plant – refers to a geothermal plant with its well
producing all steam as the well-bored product.

Liquid-dominated geothermal field – the well-bored product for this type of field is
practically all hot water, pressurized.

Fumarole – a crack in the earth through which geothermal substance passes.

Geothermal energy – a thermal energy generated and stored in the earth

Geothermal power plant – used in order to generate electricity by the use of

geothermal energy.
SAMPLE PROBLEMS:

1. The actual specific evaporation of a certain boiler is 8. Factor of evaporation is

1.15. If the heating value is 26,000 KJ/kg. Find the boiler efficiency.
2. The ASME evaporation units of a boiler is 24,827,500 KJ/hr. The boiler auxiliaries
consumes 2.5 MW. What is the net boiler efficiency if the heat generated by fuel is
32,000,000 KJ/Hr.
3. A boiler operates at 82.5% efficiency while the mass of steam generated is
995,000lbs in 5 hrs. The enthalpy of steam is 1400 Btu/lb and feed is 250 Btu/lb
while the fuel used for boiler has a heating value of 14,850 Btu/lb. Find the mass of
fuel needed in short tons per day.
4. A 18,000 KW geothermal plant has a generator efficiency and turbine efficiency of
90% and 80%, respectively. If the quality after throttling is 16% and each well
discharge 220,000 Kg/Hr , determine the number of wells are required to produce
if the charge of enthalpy at entrance and exit of turbine is 500 KJ/kg.
5. In a 10 MW geothermal power plant, the mass flow of steam entering the turbine
is 20 kg/sec. The quality after throttling is 25% and enthalpy of ground water is 750
KJ/kg. Determine the overall efficiency of the plant.
6. In a 13 MW geothermal power plant, the mass flow of steam entering the turbine
is 27 kg/s. The quality after throttling is 23% and enthalpy of ground water is 730
KJ/kg. Determine the overall efficiency of the plant.
7. Ground water in a geothermal plant has a ground water flow of 46 kg/s. If the
quality of hot water entering the flash tank is 12%, find the mass of steam entering
the turbine.