Cooling system designing for binary power plant in North-Goubhet field, Djibouti

Abstract

Binary plants represent around 10% of the total installed capacity of geothermal plants. Technology has improved in the last decades and permits low- and mediumtemperature geothermal field exploitation for power generation. Different configurations are available ranging from a simple binary cycle, or a stand-alone cycle, to combinations with a flash cycle or a bottoming cycle. Due to low efficiency, between 10 and 13%, and high investment capital, binary plant implementation has been limited. To increase the net output and plant efficiency, the design of a cooling system is analysed and its effects on power production are studied. Three systems are used for cooling, i.e. water cooling, wet cooling, and dry cooling, depending on different parameters like water availability, weather data, etc. In the report, designs of a cooling system are studied using data from the North- Goubhet geothermal field in Djibouti.