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Recover Water Emissions: New Technologies for Water Recovery
Steam is one of the main energy carriers in industrial processes. However, sometimes steam is lost to the atmosphere with no use, for example through flue gases. If steam is condensed out to form condensate, it will not only recover latent heat of vaporization but also recover water emissions.
This water can be used as make-up water for boilers, process water or for sanitation purposes, etc. The following figure is an eye-opener for how much water is wasted to the atmosphere through the flue gas streams of different kinds of power plants.
On the other hand, the available energy can be used for preheating purposes, etc. The following figure demonstrates how much heat is available through a phase change.
Source: Hyper physics / Georgia State University
By effectively utilizing this latent heat available in natural gas-fired power plants, the heat recovery possibilities that can be achieved with various flue gas temperatures are shown in this figure.
Source: Thermgard
There are different ways of recovering water from steam available in exhaust gases.
One method called liquid or solid sorption uses a liquid or solid desiccant to chemically absorb or physically adsorb water from the gas stream.
Liquid desiccants are mostly used in spray columns and solid desiccants are usually held in a packed tower or a rotary wheel. Solid desiccants cannot be used in applications with high moisture load due to rapid saturation. Therefore liquid systems are more common. Example configuration of such a system in a coal-fired power plant show here.
Source: US Department of Energy
This method produces clean water, but no heat recovery is adopted.
Another method available for recovering both heat and water is cooling down the gas stream below its dew point allowing the condensation of water available.
An example system of such heat and water recovery in a boiler exhaust is given in this figure.
In order to ensure that the condensed water does not end up getting back to the boiler, the condenser unit has been installed alongside and lower than the original stack.
Source: AEE center Condensing Economisers
While condensation of water, it can be possible to condense out other corrosive acid gases. Therefore, the produced water may not in very good quality. Also, it is necessary to use anti-corrosive materials (stainless steel, aluminum, etc.) in this kind of system. However, energy efficiency is improved considerably.
The technology for water recovery governed heavily by the dew point and water content of the gas stream. An evaluation criterion for different suitable technologies for natural gas dehydration is given in the following figure.
Source: European Integrated project CapWa
Even if the above examples reasonably give general guidance on water recovery from steam, the selection of technology actually depends on the type and condition of the real application.
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Source: Energy Siemens
Recover water emissions
What if at least half of these emissions are recovered? Assuming the price of water as 2.5 €/ m3 and 6000 operating hours per year, 900 MW steam plants will save 1.8 million € per year if half of the steam emissions are recovered as water.
On the other hand, the available energy can be used for preheating purposes, etc. The following figure demonstrates how much heat is available through a phase change.
Source: Hyper physics / Georgia State University
By effectively utilizing this latent heat available in natural gas-fired power plants, the heat recovery possibilities that can be achieved with various flue gas temperatures are shown in this figure.
Source: Thermgard
There are different ways of recovering water from steam available in exhaust gases.
One method called liquid or solid sorption uses a liquid or solid desiccant to chemically absorb or physically adsorb water from the gas stream.
Liquid desiccants are mostly used in spray columns and solid desiccants are usually held in a packed tower or a rotary wheel. Solid desiccants cannot be used in applications with high moisture load due to rapid saturation. Therefore liquid systems are more common. Example configuration of such a system in a coal-fired power plant show here.
Source: US Department of Energy
This method produces clean water, but no heat recovery is adopted.
Another method available for recovering both heat and water is cooling down the gas stream below its dew point allowing the condensation of water available.
An example system of such heat and water recovery in a boiler exhaust is given in this figure.
In order to ensure that the condensed water does not end up getting back to the boiler, the condenser unit has been installed alongside and lower than the original stack.
Source: AEE center Condensing Economisers
While condensation of water, it can be possible to condense out other corrosive acid gases. Therefore, the produced water may not in very good quality. Also, it is necessary to use anti-corrosive materials (stainless steel, aluminum, etc.) in this kind of system. However, energy efficiency is improved considerably.
The technology for water recovery governed heavily by the dew point and water content of the gas stream. An evaluation criterion for different suitable technologies for natural gas dehydration is given in the following figure.
Source: European Integrated project CapWa
Even if the above examples reasonably give general guidance on water recovery from steam, the selection of technology actually depends on the type and condition of the real application.
We love sustainable operations!
Are you an engineer? What was your best project that helped you recover water emissions? Would you like to help other companies? Would you contribute to a better world?
Check out our engineering challenges!