Membrane distillation and applications for water purification in thermal cogeneration plants

Water treatment is an important auxiliary process in all thermal cogeneration plants. In this context membrane distillation (MD) is a novel technology that has potential advantages in: the ability to utilize low-grade heat instead of electricity; reduced sensitivity to fluctuations in pH or salt concentrations. This research is a continuation of a previously conducted theoretical study where the performance of MD-based water treatment was explored via laboratory testing, system simulations of thermodynamic performance, and economic evaluations. The current paper, encompassing field trials, contains details of a test rig deployed at Idbacken Cogeneration Facility (Nykoping, Sweden) with a five-module MD unit capable of producing 1-2 m(3)/day purified water. District heating supply line was employed for heating while municipal water was used for cooling; feed stocks include municipal water and flue gas condensate. A long-term performance evaluation including thorough chemical testing of product water quality is presented. (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.