Optimization of desalted water production in a poligeneration scheme for the tourist sector Original Research Article

This paper presents a reliable and economic manner to provide desalted water for the tourist sector, starting from a poligeneration scheme which also provides energy, heat and cold to the end consumers. The proposed scheme is constituted by a power plant (internal combustion engine), a desalination system (RO unit), absorption chiller, and the complementary heat exchangers, as well as some auxiliary equipment required for the system. Water, power could be sold to their respective networks, so increasing the plant profitability. The energy and economic analysis of the scheme shows that nowadays thermodynamic (energy) and economic optimums are yet quite far, since process integration is always profitable from the point of view of energy efficiency but not always from Economics. However, last figures could be improved if water, electricity and natural gas prices are not taken from Spanish regulatory framework. Furthermore, if future CO2 emissions reduction is taken into account, plant profitability could be increased even more. Anyway, the economic results obtained for water are quite encouraging for the future of those schemes to solve the water and energy scarcity in Mediterranean and other highly-populated and/or tourist areas.