Bechtel Group, Inc.

Randall Soo-Hoo

August D Benz

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 first flash chamber where it flashes to obtain clean steam for driving a first work producing apparatus, such as a turbine. The condensate from the first flash chamber is partially returned by a pump to a condensate inlet of the reboiler to form a closed system. The remainder of the condensate from the first flash chamber is directed to a second flash chamber where it flashes to form clean steam for driving a second work producing apparatus. The condensate from the second flash chamber is directed to another inlet of the reboiler.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Randall Soo-Hoo