Performance Analysis of a New Nano Porous Ceramic Membrane Technology for Water Recovery (Extraction) from Boiler Flue Gases of a Combined Cycle Power Plant

Abstract

Nowadays, due to scarcity of water resources, water recycling and extraction have been given more attention. Among sources of water is water vapor in combustion products. In this research, as an example, amount of water vapor in exhaust flue gases of Kashan combined cycle power plant unit was predicted in different seasons and conditions, which is a significant amount of 22.6 liters per second in winter season. Then, conventional systems of separation of gas streams, solid and liquid surface absorption, condensation cooling, cryogenic separation and membrane process were investigated for feasibility of extracting water from flue gases and were evaluated technically and economically. In this case, water quality parameters, energy saving, investment cost, operation cost and technology evolution were considered as evaluation parameters. result of comparison showed superiority of ceramic membrane system of porous nano filter. Assuming 40% extraction of water in flue gases, membrane system has a much lower investment cost than other systems and based on data of Kashan power plant, extraction of 9.32 liters of water per second can be expected.