Application of gas-turbine exhaust gases for brackish water desalination: a techno-economic evaluation

During the last 20 years, the electricity generation system of Crete Island has been actually based on the operation of several gas-turbines, presenting an annual utilization factor higher than 50%. Despite the undeniable advantages of modern gas-turbines, one cannot disregard the huge quantities of hot exhausted gases produced, containing almost two thirds of the chemical energy of fuel consumed. On the other hand, the island faces serious water resources insufficiency problems, especially during hot periods of the year. In this context, the island electricity generation utility (Public Power Corporation (PPC)) is planning to allocate the so far unexploited exhausted gases of a recently installed gas-turbine (LM-6000) at the Linoperamata–Heraklion power station to the neighboring municipality of Gaziou. The main idea elaborated in the present study is the techno-economic evaluation of a new desalination plant, utilizing a thermal desalination process and taking advantage of the heat content of the above-mentioned gas-turbine. According to the results obtained, it is almost certain that the proposed desalination plant is able to produce an amount of clean water adequate to cover the local habitantsʹ needs at a moderate cost, not only saving almost 15,000 tones of imported oil per year but also alleviating the local environment from several flue gases.