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Energy & Power Generation
Energy & Power Generation Wastewater Treatment
Industry Challenges and Sustainable Solutions
Industry Wastewater Characteristics and Core Challenges
Energy and power generation facilities produce complex wastewater streams, primarily from cooling systems and flue gas desulfurization (FGD) processes. These effluents are characterized by high salinity, heavy metals, thermal pollution, and suspended solids, posing significant environmental and operational challenges.
Key Challenges
Cooling Water Contaminants
High total dissolved solids (TDS >50,000 mg/L) and scaling ions (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺), leading to equipment corrosion and reduced efficiency.
Thermal discharge raising local water temperatures, disrupting aquatic ecosystems.
FGD Wastewater Complexity
Weak acidity (pH 4-6.5), heavy metals (Hg, Cr, Pb), and high suspended solids.
Fluctuating flow rates and salinity complicate treatment stability.
Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) Pressure:
Strict regulations demand 95% water recovery and salt crystallization, requiring energy-intensive processes.
Advanced Cooling Water Treatment
● Technology: Hybrid reverse osmosis (RO) + electrodialysis (ED) systems for high-TDS water.
JUNTAI Advantage:
● Scale Inhibition Coating: Reduces scaling by 80%, extending equipment lifespan.
● Waste Heat Recovery: Integrates thermal energy from cooling water to power ZLD systems, cutting energy costs by 30%.
FGD Wastewater ZLD Systems
● Technology: Multi-effect evaporation + crystallization for salt recovery (NaCl, CaSO₄).
JUNTAI Advantage:
● Low-Temperature Crystallization: Operates at 60°C, reducing energy consumption by 40% compared to traditional thermal systems.
● Heavy Metal Adsorption: Functionalized membranes remove 99% of Hg and Cr⁶⁺.
Solar-Driven Thermal Evaporation
● Technology: Solar steam generation (SSG) with graphene-enhanced absorbers for brine concentration.
JUNTAI Advantage:
● 90% Solar Efficiency: Achieves 10 L/m²/h evaporation rate under 1 sun irradiation.
● Salt-Resistant Design: Prevents clogging in hypersaline conditions (>200,000 mg/L TDS).
Innovations in High-Salinity Wastewater Treatment
● Technology: Hybrid reverse osmosis (RO) + electrodialysis (ED) systems treat high-TDS cooling water (TDS >50,000 mg/L), integrated with waste heat recovery to reduce energy consumption.
● Case Study: A coal-fired plant reduced cooling water TDS from 35,000 to 500 mg/L using RO+ED, with 30% energy savings via waste heat-driven evaporation.
FGD Wastewater Zero Liquid Discharge Pathways
● Technology: Multi-effect evaporation (MED) + mechanical vapor recompression (MVC) enables salt crystallization (e.g., NaCl, CaSO₄) at 60°C, reducing energy use by 40% compared to conventional thermal methods.
● Industry Breakthrough: A project achieved 99% removal of Hg and Cr⁶⁺ via functionalized membranes, with crystallized salts meeting industrial-grade purity (>99.5%).
Advances in Lithium Recovery from Geothermal Brines
● Technology: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) selectively adsorb lithium ions (Li⁺), paired with ion exchange to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃).
● Implementation: A geothermal plant in Iceland produces 2.3 tons/month of 99.5% pure lithium from 50°C brine, supplying the EV battery supply chain.
Case Studies
Coal-Fired Power Plant in China
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1
Challenge
FGD wastewater with Cr⁶⁺ (12 mg/L) and TDS (35,000 mg/L) exceeded discharge limits. -
2
Solution
JUNTAI’s ZLD system with low-temperature crystallization and solar-assisted evaporation. -
3
Results
Parameter Influent Effluent Cr⁶⁺ 12 mg/L <0.01 mg/L TDS 35,000 mg/L <500 mg/L Annual Savings: $1.8M via salt sales and reduced penalties.
Nuclear Power Cooling Water Recycling
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1
Challenge
Cooling water with 80°C thermal discharge and scaling ions (Ca²⁺ >1,200 mg/L). -
2
Solution
Hybrid RO + waste heat-driven ZLD. -
3
Results
Water Recovery: 92% recycled for cooling, reducing freshwater intake by 50%.Salt Production: 8 tons/day of CaSO₄ for industrial use.
Digitalization and Future Trends
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