Double-flash enhanced Kalina-based binary geothermal power plants

Abstract In this study, the Kalina cycle (KC) is used as a binary cycle of a double-flash geothermal power plant (DF-GPP) in two innovative scenarios due to the low-temperature characteristics of KC. Although previous studies have used KC as a binary cycle in DF-GPPs, the present study demonstrates how two new proposed scenarios supersede them. The thermodynamic analysis of the proposed new enhanced geothermal power plants is presented, and their superiority in terms of energy and exergy efficiencies over the previous system is discussed. It is demonstrated that the energy and exergy efficiencies of the best scenario are enhanced by 7.01% and 7.58% when two simple KCs and a two-stage KC are used in the DF-GPP in the proposed configuration. Considering the best scenario, the exergy destruction of the KC used after the second flash tank is decreased by approximately 18.94% in comparison with the literature and 9.71% in comparison with the first proposed power plant.