Cogeneration of Clean Water Using Nuclear Power Plant Waste Heat

The production of clean water in the US as well as other countries is a critical need along with non-greenhouse gas electrical power generation. Low-temperature waste heat from nuclear power plants can be used to produce the large quantities of clean water for reactor cooling (∼25,000 acre-ft/yr), potable water for culinary and agricultural use and many other applications. Cogeneration of nuclear electrical power and clean water is reviewed and discussed in this paper. These cogeneration systems can utilize grey and/or brackish water that can markedly extend potential sites for future nuclear plants in areas where only poor water sources are available. A steam adsorption system for on-line production of clean water and refrigeration using nuclear power plant waste heat is also proposed and discussed. This improved design for more energy-efficient use of the steam adsorption cooling has the potential to substantially reduce the intense electrical power consumption for food processing and storage, ice- and snow-making and air-conditioning.