Technical paper: FluMo—a mobile fluid–chemical monitoring unit for geothermal plants

A versatile fluid–chemical monitoring unit has been developed in the framework of the geothermal research platform Groß Schönebeck, Germany. It enables selective online and in situ measurements of various physico-chemical parameters at different surface locations of a geothermal fluid loop. Sensors are provided for pressure, temperature, volumetric flow rate, density, pH-value, redox potential, oxygen content, and electrical conductivity. In addition, the apparatus features two fluid samplers to manually collect fluid under in situ conditions and ultimately analyze the solution composition. All devices are mounted on a rack allowing easy transfer of the apparatus to other geothermal plants. The maximum operating pressure and temperature of the unit are 15 bar and 150 °C, respectively. The scientific and technical purpose of the system is to monitor a compositional variability of the produced fluid and chemical processes potentially occurring within the plant. These may result from reactions between the fluid and the surrounding materials, e.g., corrosion. Also, mineral precipitation as a consequence of temperature and/or pressure decrease or oxygen contamination may occur. This information is of paramount importance as so induced reactions might lead to failure of plant components or may damage the geothermal reservoir upon fluid reinjection and thus decrease injectivity.