Geothermal Pumping in Cerro Pabellón, Chile with Foras HPMA150.6/4 – Horizontal Multistage Pumps for High-Temperature Brine Applications
- Lyn Panova
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
Location: Chile
Year: 2019
Application: Geothermal Power Plant
At Foras, we specialize in advanced pumping technologies tailored to the most demanding geothermal applications. One of our landmark contributions supports the Cerro Pabellón Geothermal Power Plant – the first geothermal facility in South America and the world’s highest, located on the Pampa Apacheta plateau in Chile at 4,500 meters above sea level. This plant, owned by Geotérmica del Norte (a joint venture between Enel Green Power Chile and ENAP), plays a vital role in harnessing sustainable energy from high-enthalpy geothermal sources.
The Challenge
Operating in the extreme conditions of the Atacama Desert, the Cerro Pabellón Power Plant required a pumping system capable of handling saturated geothermal brine at 165°C. The fluid posed several operational challenges:
High chloride content (12,300 ppm)
Presence of silica sand and suspended solids (>10 g/m³)
High elevation (4500 m a.s.l.)
Extreme ambient temperatures from -35°C to +35°C
Low Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) requirements (1.2 m)
The goal was to reliably boost geothermal fluid from deep wells (1,800 m) into heat exchangers for energy conversion in a binary cycle system.
In the diagram is synthetically given the complete production process of the Cerro Pabellon Power plant.
1. In the sector 1 of the diagram, the Pentax multistage horizontal centrifugal pumps are located in order to boost the brine fluid of the ground well into the “Pre-Heater” exchanger.2. In the sector 2 of the diagram, the Pentax Vertical Turbine centrifugal pumps are located in order to reinject the condensate fluid into ground well to return the liquid in the original reservoir.
The GDN power plant is located in the desert of Atacama in the Pampa Apacheta plateau, at about 100 km at NE of Calama town at 4500m altitude, close to the border of Bolivia.
Cerro Pabellon Power Station will have a capacity of about 81 MW, thanks to the 3 phase Power plant expansion under execution, which is equivalent to a total 600 GWh per year.
Pentax in this plant already provided the Vertical Turbine pumps for the condensate steam re-injection phase.
In the 2020 Pentax supplied n°14 units of Multistage Horizontal pumps as booster pump to relaunch the ground steam into the binary system Heat-exchanger to feed the production Turbine.
In this case the pump technical goals were very challenging since the main operation data was as follow:
Fluid temperature 165°C
Pump duty point : 300m3/h @ 40m
Required NPSH: 1,2 m
Fluid nature: pressurized Geothermal water
Water corrosion element: 12.300ppm of Chlorides
Water solids (Silica sand) > of 10 gr/m3
Site elevation: 4500m a.s.l.
Pump ambient temperature -35°C / + 35°C
Our Solution: Foras HPMA150.6/4 – Horizontal Multistage Centrifugal Pump
To meet these stringent demands, Foras supplied 14 units of the HPMA150.6/4 horizontal multistage centrifugal pump, built entirely in AISI 316 stainless steel and optimized for high-suction, high-temperature operations.
Key Technical Features:
Flow Rate: 300 m³/h
Head: 40 m
Fluid Temp: 165°C
NPSH Required: 1.1 m
Efficiency: 76.6%
Operating Speed: 950 rpm
Seal System: Double mechanical cartridge seal (Plan 53B)
Materials:
PEEK ST530 on wear rings, bushings, and drum sleeves
Stellite 706/712 on suction bush bearings
FFKM O-rings
SIC/SIC/FFKM mechanical seals
Special motor design for VFD operation at high altitude
Sensors: PT100 on both pump and motor bearings
Lubrication: Oil-lubricated bearings
Seal Cooling Fluid: Glycol 50% mix rated for -40°C
These pumps were designed to directly feed the binary heat exchanger, transferring geothermal energy to power turbines while withstanding aggressive chemical and mechanical conditions.
Results
The installation of Foras HPMA pumps has significantly enhanced the operational reliability and energy efficiency of the Cerro Pabellón plant. Their robust design ensures stable performance in the face of high temperature, corrosive fluids, and variable environmental conditions. This solution supports the plant’s annual output of approximately 600 GWh, supplying clean energy to thousands of Chilean homes.
At Foras, we specialize in intelligent, high-efficiency pumping solutions built to perform in the most demanding industrial settings. From geothermal energy systems to high-temperature fluid handling, our experts are here to support your project every step of the way.
Get in touch to explore how Foras pumps can drive your operation forward with performance, reliability, and innovation.
