The rapid industrial development of China has rightly been admired around the world but it also creates challenges, especially how to provide clean water in an efficient and effective manner.
The Chinese State Development and Investment Corporation (SDIC) needed a reliable and sustainable supply of clean water to be based near the Tianjin power plant, about 200 kilometers northeast of Beijing, and chose to partner with IDE to develop a state-of-the-art facility.
IDE's proposal for SDIC was a win-win concept. The plant would feature an advanced seawater desalination process that would be powered by the electric power plant's waste heat, which, unless captured and re-used, would be discharged into the atmosphere.
The system installed includes eight 25,000 m3/day Multi Effect Distillation (MED) units for the production of 200,000 m3/day high-quality purified water. The plant has the potential for expansion to 400,000 m3/day. In addition, employing an innovative new technology, the system is able to recycle the post-desalination waste brine and use it to create pure table salt.
The plant was developed and built on an Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) basis and commissioned in 2010 & 2013.
Guo Qigangang, general manager of the Tianjin SDIC Jinneng Electric Power Plant, said: "IDE's MED technology has enabled us to realize an environmentally-friendly power-seawater-desalination-salt production model. This helps us to minimise our environmental footprint while reducing our costs. We are proud of this world-class design and believe that it will serve as a model for other power plants throughout the world."
SDIC chose to partner with IDE due to its unmatched experience - IDE has built 400 plants in 40 countries and has installed some of the world's largest SWRO & MED desalination plants. In APAC, IDE has installed a total capacity of around 500,000 m3/day.
A customised approach
The customised approach applied for the Tianjin plant took IDE's globally leading thermal desalination technology and ensured optimal performance in local conditions.
IDE employed an innovative Waste Heat Utilization System, which uses waste heat generated by the Tianjin SDIC electricity plant to power the desalination plant. This reduces costs and minimises the discharge of heat from the plant to the atmosphere.
IDE also uses a state-of-the-art technology that recycles the plant's waste saline brine output for processing into table salt. A closed Seawater Circulation Mode was also created. This unique technology eliminates dependence on external fresh water resources, so reducing costs and environmental impact.
About IDE
IDE is a world leader in water treatment solutions. We specialise in the development, engineering, construction and operation of some of the world's largest thermal and membrane desalination facilities and industrial water treatment plants.
IDE partners with a wide range of customers - municipalities, oil & gas, mining, refineries and power stations – on all aspects of water projects, and delivers over 2.4 million m3/day of high quality water worldwide. With industry-leading technology, high expertise, financial flexibility and creative thinking, our proven track record spans 400 plants, 40 countries, and four decades. www.ide-tech.com
