The Materials Test Rig was installed at Ohaaki Thermal Kilns near Taupo, North Island earlier this year as an outcome of our Above Ground Geothermal and Allied Technologies (AGGAT) program, with generous fabrication support from some of our members.
Currently undergoing commissioning works, early trials on the rig have confirmed significant scaling potential from the geothermal resource available on site.
Dr Sadiq J. Zarrouk, geothermal engineering expert from University of Auckland also went on to state that these magnetite scales are formed due to a combination of corrosion and scaling effects, which are a common occurrence and unfortunately unavoidable.
“The best thing to do is to clean the pipes thoroughly every time the rig is shut down or isolate them from oxygen and silica by mothballing. However, the extent of damage to pipe thickness is within the designed corrosion allowance.”
“In any case, I believe the AGGAT Geothermal Test Rig will remain an asset for the geothermal community for many years to come,’ he said.