GeoHex

Heat exchangers (HXs) play a crucial role in geothermal power plants. Their maintenance is expensive and they are vulnerable to corrosion, especially in the case of organic Rankine cycle (ORC). Existing alternative anticorrosive materials are negative for HX performance and require an increase in HX size. The EU-funded GeoHex project will support the development of novel materials for geothermal use. Using low-cost carbon steel as base, the material surface will be modified with nano porous coating and the side exposed to brine will have (via electroless method) a Ni-Pi-P-PTFE duplex coat. These coatings will endow the HXs with anti-scaling, anticorrosion and upgraded heat transfer properties that will significantly improve its performance, efficiency and costs in ORC systems.

Duration: 1 November 2019 - 31 October 2023