Geothermal electricity generation and desalination: an integrated process design to conserve latent heat with operational improvements

Thomas M. Missimer, Kim Choon Ng, Kyaw Thuw, Muhammad Wakil Shahzad

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new process combination is proposed to link geothermal electricity generation with desalination. The concept involves maximizing the utilization of harvested latent heat by passing the turbine exhaust steam into a multiple effect distillation system and then into an adsorption desalination system. Processes are fully integrated to produce electricity, desalted water for consumer consumption, and make-up water for the geothermal extraction system. Further improvements in operational efficiency are achieved by adding a seawater reverse osmosis system to the site to utilize some of the generated electricity and using on-site aquifer storage and recovery to maximize water production with tailoring of seasonal capacity requirements and to meet facility maintenance requirements. The concept proposed conserves geothermally harvested latent heat and maximizes the economics of geothermal energy development. Development of a fully renewable energy electric generation-desalination-aquifer storage campus is introduced within the framework of geothermal energy development. © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)23110-23118
Number of pages9
JournalDesalination and Water Treatment
Volume57
Issue number48-49
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 5 2016

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledgements: Research funding was provided by the Water Desalination and Reuse Center and discretionary faculty funding provided by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

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