Cogeneration power desalting plants in Kuwait: a new trend with reverse osmosis desalters

The status of power and desalting plants in Kuwait as well as future demands for power and desalted water are outlined. To satisfy future needs, it is planned to connect two multi-stage flash desalting units of 6 mgd each to a steam turbine producing electric power of 300 MW nominal capacity. Steam supplied to the desalting units is usually extracted from the turbine at moderately low pressure after expansion in the turbine. This consumes more energy and needs more expensive equipment compared with RO desalting systems. The use of RO frees the power plants from the connection of its operation with the desalting system. A suggestion for a single-purpose desalting plant with its own power production by gas turbines is presented. Saving of annual fuel consumption with the suggested plan is calculated.