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Process integration techniques for optimizing seawater cooling systems and biocide discharge

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Abstract

This work addresses the problem of using seawater for cooling and the associated environmental problems caused by the usage and discharge of biocides. The discharged biocide and its byproducts are toxic to aquatic lives and must be decreased below certain discharge limits on load prior to discharge. The conventional approach has been to add biocide removal units as an end-of-pipe treatment. This work introduces an integrated approach to reducing biocide discharge though a set of coordinated strategies for in-plant modifications and biocide removal. In particular, process integration tools are used to reduce heating and cooling requirements through the synthesis of a heat-exchange network. Heat integration among process hot and cold streams is pursued economically by reconciling cost reduction in utilities versus any additional capital investment of the heat exchangers. Other strategies include maximization of the temperature range for seawater through the process and optimization of biocide dosage. This new approach has the advantage of providing cost savings while reducing the usage and discharge of biocides. A case study is used to illustrate the usefulness of this new approach and the accompanying design techniques.

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Abbreviations

Q HU :

heating utility

Q HUAHI :

heating utility after heat integration

Q HUOriginal :

original heating utility

Q CU :

cooling utility

Q CUOriginal :

original cooling utility

Q HUAHI :

cooling utility after heat integration

F SW :

seawater flow rate

F Original :

currently used seawater flow rate

F CUAHI :

the required flow rate of seawater after heat integration

F CUATM :

the required flow rate of seawater after heat integration and temperature-span maximization

C P :

specific heat

D Biocide :

dosage of biocide as ppm or mg/l

D BiocideOptimal :

optimal biocide dosage

ΔT SW :

outlet temperature minus inlet temperature of cooled streams of exchanger

ΔT SW, max :

maximum outlet temperature minus inlet temperature of cooled streams of exchanger

T SW,out max :

maximum outlet temperature of seawater

ΔT SWOriginal :

the original outlet temperature minus inlet temperature of cooled streams of exchanger

ΔT SWRevised :

the revised original outlet temperature minus inlet temperature of cooled streams of exchanger

ΔT SWThermal Pollution :

regulated ΔT SW to prevent high temperatures discharge water to sea

L Biocide :

the amount of biocide added/discharged

\(L^{\rm Biocide}_{{\rm Current}_{\rm in}}\) :

the currently added amount of biocide to seawater

L BiocideRegulated :

the maximum amount of biocide regulated to be discharged to sea

\(L^{\rm Biocide}_{{\rm Reduction}_{\rm in}}\) :

reduction in added biocide amount from cooling reduction

\(L^{\rm Biocide}_{{\rm Reduced}_{\rm in}}\) :

amount of added biocide reduced from cooling reduction

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A& M University, College Station, TX, 77843-3122, USA

    Abdullah S. Bin Mahfouz & Mahmoud M. El-Halwagi

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A& M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar

    Ahmed Abdel-Wahab

Authors
  1. Abdullah S. Bin Mahfouz
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  2. Mahmoud M. El-Halwagi
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  3. Ahmed Abdel-Wahab
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Correspondence to Mahmoud M. El-Halwagi.

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Mahfouz, A.S.B., El-Halwagi, M.M. & Abdel-Wahab, A. Process integration techniques for optimizing seawater cooling systems and biocide discharge. Clean Techn Environ Policy 8, 203–215 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-006-0046-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-006-0046-7

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