MSF nuclear desalination

Abstract

Nuclear desalination couldprovide aviable and sustainable option forthe supply of energy and freshwater. A number of nuclear desalination systems have already been established and proved to be reliable. Indeed, recent experience in several Asian countries (e.g., China, India, Japan, and Pakistan) demonstrates a potential for a promising future for largescale construction and operation of nuclear desalination complexes in arid and semi-arid coastal regions around the world. This paper evaluates possible schemes for multi-stage distillation (MSF) integrated nuclear desalination plants. The MSF desalination system was chosen because of the much larger field experience in design, construction, and operation than for other thermal desalination options (e.g., multi-effect distillation and vapor compression processes). In fact, MSF plants account for over 70% of all seawater desalination plants around the world. The schemes analyzed in this study include MSF combined with either heating nuclear reactors or nuclear power plants. The study also includes a review ofexisting nuclear desalination plants. The review focuses on MSF nuclear desalination cost in comparison with similar cogeneration fossil fuel plants. A case study for an MSF nuclear desalination complex with 12 MSF plants (each with a capacity of 7.2 migd or 32,000 m 3/d) is also presented for the two options of a heating nuclear reactor and a nuclear power plant.