| 摘要 |
A process is provided for simultaneously clarifying brine in a geothermal facility and producing silica seed material for use within the facility. A clarifier having an agglomeration zone therein is utilized and unclarified geothermal brine comprising silica solids is introduced into the agglomeration zone and thereafter circulated and mixed with the brine being clarified within the agglomeration zone to cause agglomeration of the particles therein. A circulation rate is maintained within the agglomeration zone to enable agglomerated solids therein to settle toward a lower portion of the agglomeration zone to form a sludge blanket, consisting essentially of silica and compounds of naturally occurring elements in the unclarified brine, while enabling clarified brine, having less solids than the unclarified brine, to pass out of the agglomeration zone for collection thereof. The efficiency of the clarifying process is dependent upon the level of the sludge blanket within and around the agglomeration zone and the level of the sludge blanket is controlled by a feedback system for feeding a portion of the sludge blanket into the agglomeration zone. Underflow from the clarifier, when operated in accordance with the present process, directly produces a sludge having a content suitable for direct use as seed material within the flash crystallization stages of the geothermal power plant.
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