CONCEPTUAL DESIGN AND COST STUDY FOR A DUAL-PURPOSE NUCLEAR-ELECTRIC REVERSE OSMOSIS SEAWATER CONVERSION PLANT

摘要

The objective of this study was to develop a conceptual design and cost estimate for a 25 million gallon per day seawater reverse osmosis desalting plant operating at both Caribbean and Persian Gulf sites. The plant would operate in conjunction with a 1000 MWe nuclear power plant. Four seawater membrane manufacturers were supplied with feedwater analysis and a simplified cost estimating procedure in order to recommend membrane systems which would be applicable. For both sites a two-stage system was selected for development of a conceptual cost estimate. The product water cost was found to be (based upon 1978 United States construction costs) $3.17/1000 gallons for the Caribbean site and $3.75/1000 gallons for the Persian Gulf site. However, there are areas of potential cost reduction. New membrane developments can reduce the cost of desalted water by as much as 26 percent. With the selected system, there are only small reductions in capital cost with the dual purpose plant. However, improvements in membranes could make a dual purpose plant economically more attractive.