Geothermal Piping Systems Get into the Groove (Renewable Energy World)
In the hot, rocky, volcanic terrain of the Indonesia “Ring of Fire,” the piping systems for geothermal power plants need flexibility that welded joints just can’t offer.
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Aerial view of the Wayang Windu Geothermal Power
Plant in
Indonesia.
Credit: Victaulic.
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How do you design outdoor piping to account for changing elevation, uneven terrain, seismic and thermal movement, and the reroutes required of a drilling fluid system? This was the challenge faced by engineers and contractors for Indonesia's largest geothermal power plant, Wayang Windu. The pipe-joining method would need to offer flexibility and superior maintainability, and project personnel sought a method that would not be susceptible to inclement weather or pose undue safety hazards. Welding and flanging couldn't meet those parameters, but a solution was found in grooved mechanical piping.
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