Hygroscopic cycle for enhanced water efficiency in thermal power plants

This article presents a methodology for calculating the potential for water savings whenreplacing the Rankine cycle with the hygroscopic cycle in power plants. The savings wereanalyzed in thermal power plants with different generating units (diesel, gas, steam, andcombined cycle), different cooling systems (seawater open cycle, adiabatic cooling, andcooling tower), and in different climatic zones. The results indicated a maximum averagesaving of 1.83 m3/MWh. The considerable water savings serve to reinforce the case forthe implementation of HCT, particularly in regions characterized by arid climates and waterscarcity. A reduction in water consumption, coupled with the prevention of the return ofhot water to sensitive ecosystems, can serve as effective mitigation strategies for environ-mental problems. Moreover, the minimal water consumption required for this processmakes it feasible to construct thermal power plants and generate electricity in regions withlimited water resources. The HCT approach facilitates the generation of energy in regionspreviously deemed unsuitable for thermal power plants, thereby representing a significantadvancement in economic and developmental terms for these areas.