Energy consumption and economic evaluation of water desalination by hydrate phenomenon

The required energy for seawater desalination based on a proposed hydrate formation process has been estimated. In addition, economic evaluation and cost estimation of produced potable water have been presented. A computer program has been prepared for simulation of the proposed process and was used to estimate the total capital investment, operation and maintenance costs and total product cost. A comparison study of desalination cost by different methods has been performed and the results are presented. The effect of the hydrate formation promoters on energy consumption and economic parameters has also been presented. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.