Method for inhibiting silica precipitation and scaling in geothermal flow systems
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsJackson E. Harrar, Lyman E. Lorensen, Frank E. Locke
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Abstract
A method for inhibiting silica scaling and precipitation in geothermal flow systems by on-line injection of low concentrations of cationic nitrogen-containing compounds, particularly polymeric imines, polymeric amines, and quaternary ammonium compounds.
Claims18
A method for inhibiting silica scaling and precipitation from silica-rich geothermal brine in geothermal flow systems comprising injecting a small but effective amount of a mixture of cationic nitrogen-containing compound, acid, and crystalline scale inhibitor into geothermal brine containing small suspended silica particles to cause the nitrogen-containing compound to adhere to the surface of colloidal silica particles and stabilize the colloidal silica to prevent aggregation of the particles, thereby preventing subsequent scale formation.
A ternary mixture for inhibiting silica scaling and precipitation from silica-rich geothermal brine containing small suspended silica particles in geothermal flow systems comprising (1) a cationic nitrogen-containing compound which adheres to the surface of colloidal silica particles in brine and stabilizes the silica to prevent aggregation of the particles, (2) hydrochloric acid, and (3) a phosphonate crystalline scale inhibitor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.