ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Page Count: 11

Scale and Corrosion Parameters at a Geothermal Loop Experimental Facility

Jacobson, WO
Project engineer, San Diego Gas & Electric Co., San Diego, Calif.

Rogers, AN
Executive engineer, NUS Corp., Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Schoepflin, F
Engineer specialist and project engineer, Bechtel National, Inc., San Francisco, Calif.

Henry, PM
Engineer specialist and project engineer, Bechtel National, Inc., San Francisco, Calif.

Abstract

Metallic alloys and nonmetallic materials, including coatings and plastic liners, were exposed to high-temperature (232.2°C [450°F]), highly saline (20%) brines in a 10-MW geothermal loop experimental facility at the Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area in the Imperial Valley, Calif. Mild carbon steel corrodes rapidly, especially in presence of air, while nickel alloys are very resistant to the Salton Sea geothermal brines. The Teflon® coatings and the vinyl esters exhibited the greatest resistance among the nonmetallic materials tested. Twenty-seven proprietary scale inhibitors were tested to determine the ones most promising for use in the Salton Sea brines. Several scale control additives were effective in retarding silica precipitation at 90°C, the temperature limit of these laboratory tests.

Keywords:
scale corrosion, corrosion resistance, high temperature tests, power, geothermal, alloys, plastics

Paper ID: JTE11647J
DOI: 10.1520/JTE11647J
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