156 Geothermal Power Plants: Principles, Applications, Case Studies and Environmental Impact

Fig. 8.5 Feed pump for condensate. Fig. 8.6 Preheater and evaporator.

8.2.4 Heat exchanger analysis: Preheater and evaporator

The analysis of the heat exchanger where the geothermal brine transfers some of its
thermal energy to the working fluid is another straightforward application of the prin-
ciples of thermodynamics and mass conservation; see Fig. 8.6.
We assume that the heat exchangers are well-insulated so that all the heat transfer
is between the brine and the working fluid. In keeping with our overall assumptions,
we also assume that the flow is steady, and that the differences in entering and leaving
potential energy and kinetic energy are negligible. Considering the entire package as
the thermodynamic system, the governing equation is
m _ wf ðh1 2 h4 Þ
_ b ðha 2 hc Þ 5 m ð8:6Þ
If the brine has low dissolved gases and solids, the left-hand side of the equation may
be replaced by the average specific heat of the brine cb times the temperature drop:
_ b cb ðTa 2 Tc Þ 5 m
m _ wf ðh1 2 h4 Þ ð8:7Þ
The following equation may be used to find the required brine flow rate for a given set
of cycle design parameters:
h1 2 h4
m _ wf
_b5m ð8:8Þ
cb ðTa 2 Tc Þ
The design of the individual heat exchangers requires us to examine another
thermodynamic diagram: the temperature-heat transfer or T-q diagram; see Fig. 8.7.
The abscissa represents the total amount of heat that is passed from the brine to the
working fluid. It can be shown either in percent or in heat units (say, kJ/kg wf).
The preheater PH provides sensible heat to raise the working fluid to its boiling
point, state 5. The evaporation occurs from 51 along an isotherm for a pure working
fluid. The place in the heat exchanger where the brine and the working fluid experi-
ence the minimum temperature difference is called the pinch point, and the value of
that difference is designated the pinch-point temperature difference, ΔTpp.
State points 4, 5, and 1 should be known from the cycle specifications: state 4 is
a compressed liquid, the outlet from the feed pump; state 5 is a saturated liquid at the