2002 IAEA 1
MED process diagram
2002 IAEA 2
Principle of a Reverse Osmosis process (RO)
2002 IAEA 3
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Very popular (40% of overall desalted water)Very popular (40% of overall desalted water)
Reverse Osmosis: separation of salty and pure Reverse Osmosis: separation of salty and pure water by semipermeable membraneswater by semipermeable membranes
Total energy of ~ 4 kWh/mTotal energy of ~ 4 kWh/m33 required for high required for high pressure pumps: 50 to 80 bar (800-1,180 psi) for pressure pumps: 50 to 80 bar (800-1,180 psi) for seawaterseawater
Pre-treatment and post-treatment needed: Pre-treatment and post-treatment needed: suspended solids and microorganismssuspended solids and microorganisms
Hollow fiber andHollow fiber and spiral woundspiral wound membrane typesmembrane types
2002 IAEA 4
Coupling between NP and DP: general considerations SelectionSelection ofof proper technologyproper technology RequiredRequired product quality and amount:product quality and amount: power-to-water power-to-water
ratioratio Safety:Safety: mainly dependent of nuclear plant, the design mainly dependent of nuclear plant, the design
of coupling technology, and transient interactions of coupling technology, and transient interactions between the two plantsbetween the two plants
SpecificSpecific national requirementsnational requirements Commitment ofCommitment of governmentgovernment is crucial (especially for is crucial (especially for
financial reasons)financial reasons) Site selectionSite selection In-depthIn-depth feasibility studiesfeasibility studies
2002 IAEA 5
Nuclear power reactor + MSF
2002 IAEA 6
Nuclear power reactor + MSF + RO
2002 IAEA 7
Nuclear power reactor + MED
2002 IAEA 8
DEEPDEEP developed by IAEAdeveloped by IAEA
Provides:Provides: CCost of water and power ost of water and power Cost comparison of several options Cost comparison of several options
(fossil/nuclear)(fossil/nuclear) Power consumption for water and nuclearPower consumption for water and nuclear
Desalination Economic Evaluation Program
March 2000 IAEA - T. Konishi 9
Region 2(South East Asia/Red Sea /North Africa)
Region 2
0.30
0.80
1.30
1.80
2.30
60000 2E+05 60000 2E+05 60000 2E+05 60000 2E+05 60000 2E+05 60000 2E+05 60000 2E+05 60000 2E+05 60000 2E+05
Water Plant Size (m3/d)
Water Cost ($/m3)
MSF pro-f
MSF pro-n
MED pro-f
MED Pro-n
RO pro-f
RO pro-n
2002 IAEA 10
DEEP economic study: main findings
Demonstrated competitiveness of nuclear power for Demonstrated competitiveness of nuclear power for desalination compared with fossil-fueled energy desalination compared with fossil-fueled energy sourcessources
Desalination costs range: $0.40 – 1.90 / mDesalination costs range: $0.40 – 1.90 / m33
MSF costs systematically higher than RO or MEDMSF costs systematically higher than RO or MED
RO economically favorable for less stringent RO economically favorable for less stringent drinking standardsdrinking standards
Costs higher with smaller reactorsCosts higher with smaller reactors
RO and MED costs are, in general, comparableRO and MED costs are, in general, comparable
2002 IAEA 11
Plant namePlant name Reactor Reactor TypeType
Gross Gross Power Power (MWe)(MWe)
Desalination Desalination ProcessProcess
Water Water CapacityCapacity
mm33/d/d
Ikata-1,2 (Japan)Ikata-1,2 (Japan) PWRPWR 2x5662x566 MSFMSF 20002000
Ikata-3 (Japan)Ikata-3 (Japan) PWRPWR 890890 RORO11 20002000
Ohi-1,2 (Japan)Ohi-1,2 (Japan) PWRPWR 2x11752x1175 MSFMSF 39003900
Ohi-3,4 (Japan)Ohi-3,4 (Japan) PWRPWR 2x11802x1180 RORO 26002600
Genkai-4 (Japan)Genkai-4 (Japan) PWRPWR 11801180 RORO 10001000
Genkai-3,4 (Japan)Genkai-3,4 (Japan) PWRPWR 2x11802x1180 MEDMED 10001000
Takahama-3,4 (Japan)Takahama-3,4 (Japan) PWRPWR 2x8702x870 MEDMED 10001000
Kashiwazaki (Japan)Kashiwazaki (Japan) BWRBWR 11001100 MSFMSF22 10001000
BN-350 (Kazakhstan)BN-350 (Kazakhstan) LMRLMR 150150
(till 1999)(till 1999)
MSF&MEDMSF&MED 8000080000
Table 1. EXPERIENCE IN NUCLER DESLINATION PLANTS