Effect of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) addition to prevent silica scaling in geothermal power plant projection pipes at PLTP X

Abstract

Geothermal energy is energy stored in the form of water or steam in certain geological conditions at a depth of several kilometers in the earth's crust. Power plants utilize geothermal combined cycle units that are more efficient than conventional types of geothermal power plants. PLTP X has 3 steam turbines with a pressure of 20 bar as the main generator drive and 18 steam tubs with a pressure of 10 bar. The process of Integrated Geothermal Power Plant is divided into two plants, namely dry steam power plant and binary cycle power plant. Heating working fluid in the binary cycle power plant itself uses condensate and brine water. One of problems in this PLTP X is the presence of silica scaling in production pipe and the increase of acid pH value in some production well which causes corrosion in production pipe. Therefore it is necessary to modify pH. The addition of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is needed to slow down the rate of silica deposition and to prevent corrosion of pipe.