Distillation desalination systems powered by waste heat from combined cycle power generation units

The co-generation of electricity and pure fresh water from sea water through the application of combined cycle power plants offers the highest efficiency for electricity generation and the possible utilisation of reject heat to power lowtemperature multi-stage distillation plants (MSF, ME). This system combination exhibits the best environmental results for the reduction of CO2 gases (which are more and more responsible for the increasing draughts), results in favourable water prices and yields pure water from the distillation process. This paper describes the Atlantis self-regulating “AutoFlash” multi-stage desalination system coupled to variable heat sources. As an example, a 24,000 m3/d Atlantis AutoFlash plant is introduced. Large-scale desalination projects of this type are feasible and of great interest.