Water Conservation and Reuse at Coal‐Fired Power Plants

Abstract

Water conservation and reuse concepts which have been used at several major power plants (200 MW or larger) in the southwest, southeast, west, and mid‐west United States are described. These plants typically employ wet‐type cooling towers and most use wet‐type, closed‐loop sulfur dioxide absorbers. All plants have limited discharge or zero liquid discharge site requirements. Basic concepts include the on‐site storage of raw water and wastewater for operating flexibility, the treatment of raw water to optimize water use, water conservation in mechanical systems to minimize blowdown or waste streams, direct wastewater reuse and indirect reuse with wastewater treatment to reduce raw water requirements and site discharges, and water management to control the overall plant water balance.