Silica and Silicate Inhibitor Program for Geothermal Systems

This case study outlines the implementation of an advanced silica and silicate inhibitor program developed by Nalco Water for a geothermal power plant in Indonesia. The objective of the program was to mitigate the risks associated with silica and silicate deposition in the plant's 2-phase brine header system, which could lead to unscheduled shutdowns and significant losses in power production. The study details the predictive simulation conducted using Nalco Water’s Geomizer™ modeling tool, which confirmed the high tendency for scale formation in the system. Existing chemical treatments were deemed insufficient, necessitating the development of a new program. The GEO912 injection, an advanced polymer program, was implemented to inhibit silica and silicate scaling effectively. Results showed a significant reduction in shutdown days by 50% and annual savings of $1,000,000, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in maintaining low scaling rates and enhancing operational reliability.