Desalination technology evaluation

The shortage of potable water has hindered economic development in South Florida and other areas of the United States. This project, cosponsored with Florida Power Light (FPL), examines the economics of colocation of a water desalination plant with an electric power plant to take advantage of shared facilities, personnel, and equipments well as existing intake and outfall structures. In combination, these factors should reduce the cost of desalinated water. The first step in determining the viability of colocation is identification of desalination technologies best suited for dual-purpose applications in retrofits at existing fossil plants. Based on energy efficiency and commercial maturity, reverse osmosis (RO) and low-temperature multieffect distillation (LT-MED) technologies appear to be the best candidates for such application. In fact, RO provides the best economics for the plants and conditions studied. Of the emerging technologies evaluated, sodium molecular pumping and solvent extraction technologies should be further investigated for their potential in significantly reducing desalination costs.