Evaluation of tube enhancement for geothermal power generation heat exchangers

Some geothermal waters are relatively clean, so that the use of enhanced surface heat exchangers is possible. This is the basic premise of the present work where trade-offs using enhanced surfaces in binary fluid power generation heat exchangers have been evaluated. Effects of the heat transfer performance and required pumping power resulting from the use of axially finned tubes (included are externally, internally, and externally and internally finned configurations in a variety of dimensions) are compared with smooth-tube designs. The trade-offs indicate where enhanced surfaces may be cost effective.