Optimization of Cogeneration Power-Desalination Plants

The design of new dual-purpose thermal desalination plants is a combinatory problem because the optimal process configuration strongly depends on the desired targets of electricity and freshwater. This paper proposes a mathematical model for selecting the optimal structure, the operating conditions,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ariana M. Pietrasanta, Sergio F. Mussati, Pio A. Aguirre, Tatiana Morosuk, Miguel C. Mussati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-11-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/22/8374
Description
Summary:The design of new dual-purpose thermal desalination plants is a combinatory problem because the optimal process configuration strongly depends on the desired targets of electricity and freshwater. This paper proposes a mathematical model for selecting the optimal structure, the operating conditions, and sizes of all system components of dual-purpose thermal desalination plants. Electricity is supposed to be generated by a combined-cycle heat and power plant (CCHPP) with the following candidate structures: (a) one or two gas turbines; (b) one or two additional burners in the heat recovery steam generator; (c) the presence or missing a medium-pressure steam turbine; (d) steam generation and reheating at low pressure. Freshwater is supposed to be obtained from two candidate thermal processes: and (e) a multi-effect distillation (MED) or a multi-stage flash (MSF) system. The number of effects in MED and stages in MSF are also discrete decisions. Different case studies are presented to show the applicability of the model for same cost data. The proposed model is a powerful tool in optimizing new plants (or plants under modernization) and/or improving existing plants for desired electricity generation and freshwater production. No articles addressing the optimization involving the discrete decisions mentioned above are found in the literature.
ISSN:1996-1073