Water saving in electric power generation facilities using the hygroscopic cycle in the subtropical climate

Abstract

The sustainability of the electric power generation system worldwide is undoubtedly one of the main challenges of our era. This will be achieved through the massive incorporation of renewable energy sources, but also using highly efficient non-renewable sources. These latest technologies are still necessary today to guarantee the supply of electricity. To optimize its operation in a sustainable way, it is required to minimize both the consumption of primary energy and the water necessary for cooling. In this work, the Hygroscopic Cycle Technology is presented as an alternative to traditional thermal cycles and that allowing to minimize the use of water in refrigeration processes. Thus, assuming the incorporation of this technology to existing thermal power plants in the Canary Islands, cooling water savings were calculated. In this way, the total savings achieved in this subtropical climate amounted to 1.6 Mm3 annually. A very high value that reinforces the interest of this technological improvement in the thermal processes of thermoelectric plants avoiding the consumption of water.