REQUEST #9372571

Monitoring technology for geothermal power plant facility

RESPONSE DUE DATE: May 9, 2018 MANAGER: Y. Ishida

Opportunity SOLUTION PROVIDER HELP DESK

Supplier agreement, technology licensing, joint / contract EMAIL: PHD2@ninesigma.com
research

Timeline
■Case 1: Development for use at 250°C and 2.5 MPa
- Evaluation by actual equipment: September 2019
- Commercialization: September 2020
■Case 2: Development for use at 500°C and 10 MPa
- Development start: September 2021

Financials
Necessary development expense will be covered
(Details to be discussed).

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION A: Gas–liquid two-phase flow rate:

NineSigma, representing a leading electrical
equipment manufacturer, seeks monitoring
technologies for geothermal power plant
facilities. Specifically, the client seeks a two-
phase flowmeter, a silica concentration
measurement device, and a steam wetness
measurement device, which can be used under
high temperature and high pressure in such as
a steam turbine or a steam well. Potential
technologies that have not been applied to
geothermal power plants at present are also
welcome.
Requirements for the monitoring technology
The client seeks sensors and monitoring
technologies that can measure any of A, B and C
below.
Common conditions for A, B and C:
• Shall be usable for one year or more under
high-temperature and high-pressure
conditions as in Case 1 below (the
measurement accuracy should be
guaranteed).
• Preferably can be used under the condition
for Case 2 requiring higher temperature and
pressure.
Temperature Pressure
Case 1 250°C 2.5 MPa
Case 2 500°C 10 MPa
Can measure the flow rate of the mixed fluid of
gas (vapor) and liquid (geothermal water)
discharged from the steam well.
• Target facility: Steam well piping
○ Size (diameter): 8B to 32B
○ Flow rate (total of the two-phase flow)
▪ 100 to 1000 ton/hour
*Gas/water ratio; 10% to 90%
• Measurement accuracy: about 1%
B: Silica concentration in geothermal fluid:
Can measure high silica concentration in
geothermal fluid (two-phase flow) piping.
• Target facility: Geothermal fluid piping
○ Size (diameter): 8B to 40 B
▪ Steam flow rate: 100 to 1000 ton/hour
○ Silica concentration: 100 to 500 ppm
• The measurement value can be monitored
remotely once a day
C: Steam wetness:
Can measure steam wetness (dryness) in steam
turbine piping.
• Target facility: Steam turbine piping
○ Size (diameter): 8B to 40B
○ Steam flow rate: 100 to 1000 ton/hour
○ Steam wetness: 0.01%–0.5% mass
• The measurement value can be monitored
remotely once a day

NineSigma Asia Pacific, NineSigma Europe, NineSigma North America

RFP format and graphics© Copyright 2018 NineSigma Holdings, Inc
NineSigma Request # 9372571 Monitoring technology for geothermal power plant facility
POSSIBLE APPROACHES
Regarding the sensors and monitoring
technologies of A–C as described above, possible
approaches might include, but are not limited to:
• Gas–liquid Two-phase flowmeter
○ Probe method
○ Coriolis type mass flowmeter
• Silica concentration measurement
○ Optical method
○ Mass analysis
• Steam wetness (dryness) measurement
○ Method using a vortex flowmeter
○ Method using near-infrared rays
APPROACHES NOT OF INTEREST
The following approaches are not of interest:
• Technology at concept level
BACKGROUND
To achieve a high-efficiency operation and a
reduction in maintenance costs of power plant, the
monitoring technology of related facilities and the
data analysis thereof are important. However, since
the geothermal power plants handles the high-
temperature and high-pressure water and steam
including corrosive gas and impurities, sensors
require a higher heat resistance and pressure
resistance performance, which leads to the limited
monitoring technique utilized. While the client
develops technologies to solve these problems, the
development of various sensors on the premise of
application to IoT technology is widely performed all
over the world. Therefore, the client has issued this
open request in order to further accelerate its own
research and development.
In this project, the client focuses on the following
three monitoring technologies;
• Flow rate measurement of gas–liquid two-
phase flow for diagnosis of soundness and
prediction of life of the production (steam)
well
• Measurement of steam wetness (dryness)
for quality monitoring of steam for steam
turbine
• Measurement of the silica concentration for
quality monitoring of the steam well and
prevention of scale adhesions in piping
ANTICIPATED PROJECT PHASES OR PROJECT PLAN
Respondents should submit proposals using the
attached Response Template.
NineSigma Holdings, Inc.
Request format and graphics© Copyright 2018 NineSigma Holdings, Inc
Page 2
The client will review submitted proposals and
possibly ask clarifying questions before selecting
the most suitable candidates for collaboration. The
client will select the best candidate(s) through
evaluations. During the selection process, the
client may execute non-disclosure agreements
(NDA) with selected respondent(s), seek further
information disclosure, and discuss specific
development targets or potential opportunities.
The client will execute necessary agreement(s)
with the selected respondent(s) and move to the
advanced development phase. Specifics of any
collaboration will be determined through
consultation with the concerned parties.
ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSAL
Responses will use the Proposal Template which
is linked to the “attachments” shown at the bottom
of the link <REQ#9372571> and include the
following items:
• Overview of the technology (principle,
configuration, etc.)
• Characteristics and uniqueness of the
technology
• Development stage (prototype already
developed / under development for practical
use /commercialized)
• Current performance
○ Available temperature and pressure
conditions
○ Measurable physical properties (two-
phase flow rate/ silica concentration/
steam wetness)
○ Measurable range of physical properties
described above.
○ Measurement time
○ Measurement accuracy
○ Device size
○ Case Study
○ Achievements with collaborators
• Current issues and future plans (particularly,
applicability to conditions for Case 2)
• Sample test conditions (quantity to be
provided, cost, period, and terms of
agreement, etc.)
SUBMITTING A RESPONSE
All proposals should be submitted online at
NineSights, the NineSigma open innovation
community, according to the instructions in the
Proposal Template. Supplemental files may be
submitted in addition to the proposal document.
For assistance, please contact the Solution
Provider Help Desk (PHD2@ninesigma.com).
NineSights.com
NineSigma Request # 9372571 Monitoring technology for geothermal power plant facility Page 3

REQUEST GUIDELINES

Non-Confidential Disclosure
By submitting a response you represent that the response
does not and will not be deemed to contain any
confidential information of any kind whatsoever.

Response Evaluation
NineSigma’s client will evaluate the response using the
following criteria:
• Overall scientific and technical merit of the proposed
approach
• Approach to proof of concept or performance
• Potential for proprietary position (i.e., is the
technology novel or protectable)
• Economic potential of concept
• Respondent’s capabilities and related experience
• Realism of the proposed plan and cost estimates

Response Selection
By submitting a response, you acknowledge that
NineSigma’s client reserves the sole and absolute right
and discretion to select for award all, some, or none of the
responses received for this announcement. NineSigma’s
client also may choose to select only specific tasks within a
proposal for award. NineSigma's client has the sole and
absolute discretion to determine all award amounts.
NineSigma will contact respondents with highly responsive
proposals for next steps, or the client may contact
respondents directly.

NineSigma Holdings, Inc. NineSights.com

Request format and graphics© Copyright 2018 NineSigma Holdings, Inc