Geothermal reboiler apparatus and method

摘要

Apparatus and method for handling geothermal brine containing high non-condensible gas concentrations. The brine is directed into a pre-flash chamber where a vapor fraction is separated from a liquid fraction, the vapor fraction including steam and a non-condensible gas. The vapor fraction is directed into and through a reboiler in countercurrent flow relationship to a condensate. This action causes the steam of the vapor fraction to be stripped from the non-condensible gas and also causes the condensate to be heated by the steam. The non-condensible gas flows out of the reboiler to a gas expander collection station, or to the atmosphere while the condensate flows to a flash chamber where it flashes to obtain clean steam for driving a work producing apparatus, such as a turbine. The condensate from the flash chamber is returned by a pump to the condensate inlet of the reboiler to form a closed system.