Liquid Dominated Geothermal Plants
In liquid dominated plants, geothermal plants are built upon liquid reservoirs within the earth’s surface. This liquid is sent through one or more separators in order to lower the pressure of the water, creating steam. This steam then propels a turbine generator causing it to produce electricity. This steam is then condensed back into a liquid and placed back into the liquid reservoir it originated from. This type of geothermal plant is very common and provides a sustainable, reusable form of energy.
Liquid dominated power plants are also referred to as flash steam power plants; as they conduct flash steam by pressurizing hot water from the surface of the earth. Such power plants operate using water reservoirs with temperatures greater than 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Liquid dominated reservoirs are more common than others, causing them to produce more electricity and power more stations. These reservoirs are found in specific locations including rift zones, mantle hot spots, and near new volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean. The largest liquid-dominated system in the world is found at Cerro Prieto.
In liquid dominated plants, geothermal plants are built upon liquid reservoirs within the earth’s surface. This liquid is sent through one or more separators in order to lower the pressure of the water, creating steam. This steam then propels a turbine generator causing it to produce electricity. This steam is then condensed back into a liquid and placed back into the liquid reservoir it originated from. This type of geothermal plant is very common and provides a sustainable, reusable form of energy.
Liquid dominated power plants are also referred to as flash steam power plants; as they conduct flash steam by pressurizing hot water from the surface of the earth. Such power plants operate using water reservoirs with temperatures greater than 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Liquid dominated reservoirs are more common than others, causing them to produce more electricity and power more stations. These reservoirs are found in specific locations including rift zones, mantle hot spots, and near new volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean. The largest liquid-dominated system in the world is found at Cerro Prieto.
Vapor Dominated Geothermal Plants
Steam reservoirs are very rare but are an incredibly efficient sustainable electricity source. The Geysers in California is the most prominent dry steam reservoir. A dry steam plant works in a similar fashion to a Liquid Dominated Geothermal Plant. Steam is obtained by drilling between seven to ten thousand feet deep into the earth’s crust. The steam obtained is piped directly into a turbine generator, producing electricity. The steam is then condensed and placed back into the steam reservoir, providing a reusable energy source.
Vapor Dominated Plants, also referred to as dry-steam power plants, are so rare that only two locations exist in the United States. These include The Geysers in California, previously mentioned above, and the famous dry steam reservoir held at Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is legally protected from geothermal development, so only one plant exists in the United States. The most prominent international dry steam power plant exists in Larderello, Italy. In Larderello, hot granite on the earth’s surface creates boiling water and hot steam under the earth’s surface. The geothermal plant in Larderello is able to convert this dry steam into 594 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 594,000 homes. Comparatively, the geothermal plant produces over 40 times this amount of energy, producing 27,500 megawatts of energy.
Steam reservoirs are very rare but are an incredibly efficient sustainable electricity source. The Geysers in California is the most prominent dry steam reservoir. A dry steam plant works in a similar fashion to a Liquid Dominated Geothermal Plant. Steam is obtained by drilling between seven to ten thousand feet deep into the earth’s crust. The steam obtained is piped directly into a turbine generator, producing electricity. The steam is then condensed and placed back into the steam reservoir, providing a reusable energy source.
Vapor Dominated Plants, also referred to as dry-steam power plants, are so rare that only two locations exist in the United States. These include The Geysers in California, previously mentioned above, and the famous dry steam reservoir held at Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is legally protected from geothermal development, so only one plant exists in the United States. The most prominent international dry steam power plant exists in Larderello, Italy. In Larderello, hot granite on the earth’s surface creates boiling water and hot steam under the earth’s surface. The geothermal plant in Larderello is able to convert this dry steam into 594 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 594,000 homes. Comparatively, the geothermal plant produces over 40 times this amount of energy, producing 27,500 megawatts of energy.
Binary Cycle Plants
A binary cycle power plant is used when the water in a reservoir is not hot enough to transform into steam. This lower temperature water is instead used to heat a liquid that expands when heated. This fluid increases the pressure around a generator causing a turbine to turn, producing electricity. The fluid is recycled and used again to form a reusable energy source. This is the most readily available geothermal resource throughout the country, as it does not require specific liquid or steam reservoirs
Binary plants work upon liquid dominated reservoirs found under the earth’s surface. However, unlike the flash steam plants, Binary plants work with water at lower temperatures, between 225 and 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the lower temperatures of this water, the water must be pumped up to the earth’s surface and boiled into a working fluid. Due to the abundance of cold water reservoirs in the Earth’s surface, binary cycle power plants make up the majority of geothermal plants in the United States. Binary cycle power plants also create minimal air emissions due to the constant separation between the water form the earth’s surface and the working fluids used during the operation.
A binary cycle power plant is used when the water in a reservoir is not hot enough to transform into steam. This lower temperature water is instead used to heat a liquid that expands when heated. This fluid increases the pressure around a generator causing a turbine to turn, producing electricity. The fluid is recycled and used again to form a reusable energy source. This is the most readily available geothermal resource throughout the country, as it does not require specific liquid or steam reservoirs
Binary plants work upon liquid dominated reservoirs found under the earth’s surface. However, unlike the flash steam plants, Binary plants work with water at lower temperatures, between 225 and 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the lower temperatures of this water, the water must be pumped up to the earth’s surface and boiled into a working fluid. Due to the abundance of cold water reservoirs in the Earth’s surface, binary cycle power plants make up the majority of geothermal plants in the United States. Binary cycle power plants also create minimal air emissions due to the constant separation between the water form the earth’s surface and the working fluids used during the operation.