Title: Electricity production from geothermal sources by binary system; choosing secondary fluids

Authors: Ayşe Kapulluoğlu; Metin Gürü

Addresses: Management Systems Directorate, Department of Planning and Coordination, Turkish Petroleum Corporation, Ankara, Turkey ' Gazi University Engineering Faculty, Department of Chemical Engineering, Maltepe 06570, Ankara, Turkey

Abstract: Because of the increasing prices of fossil fuels and the demand for cleaner electricity production, many sources of renewable energy have been proposed. Although Turkey has the seventh highest geothermal potential in the world and the second highest in Europe, electricity generation from geothermal energy is quite low. The purpose of this article is to search for the possibility of electrical energy generation by binary systems operated with different working fluids. Although in the range of 121-167°C, geothermal fluid temperatures, hydrocarbons can be used as secondary fluid, between 220-230°C, propane cannot be used, and so, ethane must be considered.

Keywords: geothermal energy; power plants; binary systems; electricity generation; secondary fluids; renewable energy; Turkey; hydrocarbons; ethane.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2012.049095

International Journal of Exergy, 2012 Vol.11 No.1, pp.112 - 118

Published online: 13 Sep 2012 *

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