Design of geothermal steam supply systems in Iceland

Abstract

The role of the geothermal steam supply system is to receive the geothermal fluid from the geothermal wells, separate the steam from the water and to deliver steam and/or water to a user of the thermal energy. It may be for direct use in any kind of an industrial process, such as drying, heating, cooling, etc., or it may be intended for electric power generation. The steam supply system delivers the fluid at a specified temperature, pressure and quality to the user. The steam supply system consists of wellheads, steam collection pipelines, nowadays in Iceland normally designed for two-phase flow of water and steam, steam-water separators, main steam/water lines, moisture separators, control valves, exhaust system, and effluent disposal equipment as needed and may include compressors and/or pumps for long distance transportation. Design criteria for the system depend on one hand upon the characteristics of the geothermal field, and on the other upon the intended use and required steam quality and economy. High enthalpy fields, for example, are capable of producing high pressure steam which is relatively economical when electric power generation alone is being considered. For such systems, high quality of the steam is of utmost importance. The paper gives a general overview of the steam supply systems in Iceland and describes the main features of the Nesjavellir steam supply system where the main emphasis was laid on high steam quality in order to prevent scaling in turbines, control valves and heat exchangers. New systems or systems needing restoration should be based on the same features.