ABSTRACT:
The popularity of cogeneration of water and power is gaining momentum around the world. Nuclear power plans and other heat generating plans can be readily coupled to desalination units (both thermal and membrane units) to produce much needed water of various quantities and quality. It is further demonstrated that higher feed seawater or brackish water into a membrane desalination system can dramatically increase water production rate. Such systems can be also coupled to thermal desalination systems in order to produce a range of water products of various purities for various purposes (e.g. agriculture, potable, industrial, etc.).

In the U.S., these types of cogeneration activities are shown to be particularly relevant in arid and semi arid regions of Texas, Florida, and California (where there already exists a nuclear power plant couple to a membrane desalination plant at Diablo Canyon along the central Californian coast). In addition, such coupled power/water systems can also be readily available for ship board applications, such as on various navy vessels.

All of these systems need to be optimized in terms of their economics, power and water production rates, and water quality. This task if most important as is observed form international experience of coupled nuclear and other fossil fuel fired plants and desalination systems around the world (e.g. Arabian Gulf countries, India, Pakistan, and Japan, among others). Work, development and research on these important aspects of cogeneration are ongoing.