Researchers examine cooling power plants with brackish groundwater


Date:
May 23, 2023
Source:
University of Wyoming
Summary:
Nontraditional water sources can be deployed to help cope with
climate- induced water risks and tackle the increasing water
demand for decarbonization of fossil fuel-fired power plants,
but that could increase the cost of electricity generation by 8
percent to 10 percent.


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FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new analysis led by a University of Wyoming researcher shows that
brackish or salty groundwater has the potential to replace fresh water to
cool coal- and natural gas-fired power plants and strengthen resilience
in the energy infrastructure, although there's a cost associated with
doing so.

With freshwater supplies threatened due to drought, climate change and
rapid socioeconomic growth, water competition is increasing between
the electric power sector and other sectors. While transitioning to a low-carbon energy future, decarbonization of fossil fuel-fired power
plants by carbon capture and storage would significantly increase water consumption and exacerbate water competition. Water challenges drive
power plant operators to explore alternative water sources.

"Nontraditional water sources can be deployed to help cope with
climate-induced water risks and tackle the increasing water demand for decarbonization of fossil fuel-fired power plants," wrote the research
team, led by Haibo Zhai, UW's Roy and Caryl Cline Distinguished Chair in
the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. "Treatment of brackish groundwater for thermoelectric generation cooling can help alleviate
potential competition for freshwater resources among various sectors in water-stressed regions." The research appears in the journal Nature
Water, with Zhai's UW Ph.D. student, Zitao Wu, as the lead author of
the paper. Other contributors are from the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh, Pa. This journal publishes the best research
on the evolving relation between water and society. It's the second
paper of a multiyear project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy;
the first paper, published last year in the journal Applied Energy,
examined the possibility of switching from water cooling towers to dry
cooling systems at fossil fuel-fired plants.

Removing excess dissolved salts and minerals from brackish water can
itself be energy intensive and produce concentrated brines requiring
disposal. A method called zero liquid discharge minimizes environmental
impacts of desalination but is particularly costly.

The researchers examined the technical and economic feasibility of
multiple desalination processes. They also estimated how much fresh water
would be saved as a result of treating brackish water for power plant
cooling, and they evaluated the cost-effectiveness of brackish water
treatment retrofits -- and the impact on the net generating capacity of
power plants. They concluded that retrofitting power plants to treat
brackish groundwater could nearly eliminate the use of fresh water
but would increase the cost of electricity generation by 8 percent to
10 percent.

"Our study reveals trade-offs in freshwater savings, cost and generating capacity shortfalls from desalination deployment," Wu says.

The researchers call for further development of technologies to treat
brackish water, along with exploration of using other nontraditional water sources for cooling of power plants. Those include treated municipal wastewater, as well as water produced from oil and gas extraction and
carbon dioxide storage reservoirs.

The trade-offs identified for various nontraditional water sources will
fill knowledge gaps to better inform water-for-energy decisions and
management, the researchers say.

* RELATED_TOPICS
o Matter_&_Energy
# Nature_of_Water # Nuclear_Energy # Energy_Technology #
Energy_and_Resources
o Earth_&_Climate
# Water # Drought_Research # Energy_and_the_Environment
# Renewable_Energy
* RELATED_TERMS
o Water_resources o Electricity_generation o Hydroelectricity o
Water_turbine o Water_scarcity o Renewable_energy o Fossil_fuel
o Wind_power

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Wyoming. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Zitao Wu, Haibo Zhai, Eric J. Grol, Chad M. Able, Nicholas
S. Siefert.

Treatment of brackish water for fossil power plant cooling. Nature
Water, 2023; DOI: 10.1038/s44221-023-00072-x ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230523123748.htm

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