CASE STUDY 1

Desalination plant for a 300 MW Power Plant

Background

Our client had a capacity of 300 MW and used Ion Exchange Resins (IER) technology and fresh water to produce ultra-pure demi water needed for high-pressure steam.

Fresh water, however, is a limited resource in the area and using it was decreasing its availability to the local population.

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The Solution

In 2010, the client issued a public tender to design, manufacture and supervise the installation, start-up, commissioning and service of a desalination plant with the capacity of producing 2,520 m3/day of ultra-pure water for the power plant.

Technology, equipment quality, warranties, technical assistance and costs were the parameters taken into consideration for awarding the project. The technology and scope proposed by Chematek included seawater uptake and pre-treatment with multimedia filters (Installed Capacity – IC: 420 m3/h), desalination with two-pass Reverse Osmosis (IC: 150 and 135 m3/h), demineralisation with Mixed Bed Resins (IC: 180รท360 m3/h) and neutralisation of wastewater. The proposed plant had a high level of automation to guarantee high reliability and safety. The proposal also included a three-year contract for providing technical assistance and training the power plant personnel.

Chematek was awarded the contract in April 2011 and the plant started its operation in December 2012, becoming the first of its kind in the area.

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Results

The following table summarises the results obtained since Chematek installed the desalination plant.

Previous
IER Technology

 Current Desalination Technology by Chematek

Electricity Consumption (kWh/m3)

8

< 5

Sodium Hydroxide (45% sol.) consumption (ton/year)

100

20

Sulfuric Acid (98%) consumption (ton/year)

600

20

The consumption of chemical products dramatically decreased after Chematek installed the new desalination plant, and all brine and residues are now neutralised and safely sent to the sea.

Considering the reduced consumption of chemical products, fresh water and electricity, the client is saving nearly US$3million and 1480 MWh per year, compared to the use of previous IER technology.