Geothermal is naturally aggressive environments. Geofluids, due to their inherent chemistry, cause corrosion and scaling issues in critical plant components such as heat exchangers adding to capital costs as well as reducing the overall efficiency of geothermal power plants. Project GeoHex, an international initiative funded under the EUs Horizon 2020 programme, explores opportunities to improve anti-scaling and anti-corrosion properties as well as heat transfer performance of the HX material that could lead to smaller, more efficient and economical systems.
Using low-cost carbon steel as base materials and the modification of its surface chemistry through nano-porous coatings, GeoHex is working towards a technology that can improve heat transfer as well as anti-scaling and anti-corrosion properties of heat exchangers.
The use of geothermal resources aligns with global goals for sustainable development by helping to provide affordable and clean energy. GeoHex contributed to the exploitation of this resource by addressing material challenges to improve the efficiency of critical components for competent and economical geothermal systems.
Through modification of the surface with nano-porous coatings and controlling the surface chemistry, GeoHex aims to significantly improve the heat transfer performance of single-phase and phase change heat transfer processes respectively.
Project GeoHex is the first RTD project for the Philippines that highlights transcontinental technology transfer for the development of advanced materials for cost-efficient and enhanced heat exchanger performance in geothermal applications.