How much fresh water can a nuclear power plant produce through desalination?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential for nuclear power plants to produce fresh water through desalination. Participants explore the current state of desalination technology, its geographical relevance, and the implications of using nuclear energy for this purpose. The conversation touches on various desalination methods and the need for such facilities in water-scarce regions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that the majority of desalination plants are located in the Middle East, with the largest plant in Saudi Arabia producing significant amounts of desalted water.
  • Others highlight the economic challenges faced by desalination plants in regions like Florida, where demand may not justify the investment.
  • A participant mentions the abundance of fresh water in Canada, indicating a lack of familiarity with desalination processes.
  • Several methods of desalination are described, including distillation, solar evaporation, freezing, and electrodialysis, each with its own technical considerations.
  • One participant questions the viability of groundwater extraction as an alternative to desalination, raising concerns about contamination and sustainability.
  • A later reply introduces the idea of dedicating a nuclear power plant to desalination, prompting curiosity about the potential fresh water output from such a setup.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the necessity and efficiency of desalination plants, particularly in different geographical contexts. There is no consensus on the effectiveness of nuclear power for desalination or the best methods for producing fresh water.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of specific data on the fresh water output of nuclear-powered desalination plants and the assumptions underlying the feasibility of such operations.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring the intersection of energy production and water resource management, particularly in arid regions or areas facing water scarcity challenges.

scrith11
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Of the more than 7,500 desalination plants in operation worldwide, 60% are located in the Middle East. The world's largest plant in Saudi Arabia produces 128 MGD of desalted water. In contrast, 12% of the world's capacity is produced in the Americas, with most of the plants located in the Caribbean and Florida.

http://www.coastal.ca.gov/desalrpt/dchap1.html
 
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Yes, the Middle East does have some fresh water problems and SA is so wealthy, they were able to construct those plants.
 
Apparently one of the desalination plants in the bay area in Florida never really got up and running at full capacity. It has passed hands through several companies so far, and it doesn't look like it has been too profitable.

Florida gets fairly regular rainy seasons though (with the occasional drought like any geographical location) and I see more of a legitimate need for such facilities in areas such as California, Nevada, Arizona, or New Mexico, where water is already scarce.
 
Up here in Canada we have so much fresh water that we haven't even heard the phrase "desalanation plant". I don't even know how they work.
 
Well when it comes to treating bodies of water to produce drinkable water, we can classify water according to their treatment in 5 groups. The desalination process will be in the fift group for special treatments of water. This is a special process because it usually doesn't only require the conventional filtration treatment, or other before and/or after alternatively treatment because of the contamination.

The desalination process of sea water or brackish water has basically 4 main treatments which are:

Distillation: basically filtrate the salts out of the water.

Solar Evaporation: The seawater goes through compartments of shallow depth which are covered by crystals or plastic materials. The lack of moist of the salts which condenses on the deck is picked up by small canals.

Freezing: basically the temperature of seawater is lowered til it forms ice crystals. These are free of salts, but must go through cleaning processes with fresh water.

Electrodialysis: This is an electrochemical process which eliminates the ions of the crystalloids of the water, possible because of diffusion through a colloidal membrane. This method is mostly used on brackish water.
 
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motai said:
I see more of a legitimate need for such facilities in areas such as California, Nevada, Arizona, or New Mexico, where water is already scarce.

What about groundwater?? It's better in my opinion. Of course as long as it is extracted with responsability. The only problems i see with groundwater is the obvious contamination with seawater because of breaking the Gyben -Hertzberg (spl?) equilibrium and the ground movements. I imagine the groundwater reserves of the USA aren't (at least have less contamination) contaminated by chemical substances or other?

Oh and btw, this should go on general engineering, unless the OP is interested in how the chemical processes of desalination works.
 
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scrith11:

The unit MGD, how big is it. To me MGD stands for Miller Genuine Draft.

I was wondering what if a nuclear power plant (e.g., 1.2 Gw) were dedicated to operation of a desalination plant, how much fresh water could be produced?
 

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