Energy-water nexus in seawater desalination project: A typical water production system in China. (10th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, S.Y.; Wang, Z.Y.; Han, M.Y.; Wang, G.D.; Hayat, T.; Chen, G.Q.
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 279(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-10
• Subjects: Energy-water nexus -- Seawater desalination -- Life cycle analysis -- Input-output analysis; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123412
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: As the most essential factors affecting sustainable regional development, energy and water resources are closely related. Based on the three-scale energy intensity database, this study calculates the whole life cycle performance of a 25, 000 tons/day desalination project in Hebei Province, China by combining life cycle analysis with input-output analysis. Considering the embodied energy consumption in different time periods, the corresponding freshwater production per year is 9.13 million m 3, and the total energy consumption covering the construction and operation stages is 39.46 PJ, with the energy consumption per year of 1.94 PJ. Considering the embodied energy consumption in different scales and components, the energy consumption at the national scale contributes the largest proportion (68.79%), and the evaporator is the main component in the construction stage (34.30%). For energy consumption in water production, the energy-water nexus index in the project is 18.02 kWh/m 3, among which the thermal power could be replaced through the combination of seawater desalination and thermal power plants. Through the reasonable selection of key materials and components and location of seawater desalination projects, the balance between the supply and demand of energy consumption and water production could be optimized from the energy-water nexus perspective. Graphical abstract: Systems diagram of the seawater desalination project. Image 1 Highlights: The energy-water nexus is assessed on the seawater desalination project. The energy consumption in operation stage is higher than in construction stage. The evaporator is essential energy-consuming equipment in desalination process. The energy consumption in operation stage is 1.94 PJ per year. The energy-water intensity is 18.02 kWh/m 3, slightly higher than other plants.