Estimating Freshwater Needs to Meet Future Thermoelectric Generation Requirements. 2008 Update.

Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee

关键词: Water use;    Thermoelectric power generation;    Electric power generation;    Energy demand;    Energy consumption;   

RP-ID  :  PB2011103658

学科分类：工程和技术（综合）

美国|英语

来源: National Technical Reports Library

【 摘 要 】

The purpose of this report is to estimate future freshwater needs for thermoelectric power generation. Thermoelectric power plants--coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear fueled power generators using a steam turbine based on the Rankine thermodynamic cycle require significant quantities of water for generating electrical energy. For example, a 500 MW coal-fired power plant uses over 12 million gallons per hour of water for cooling steam turbine exhaust. The water required for thermoelectric plants is withdrawn primarily from large volume sources, such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and underground aquifers. While both freshwater (approximately 70%) and saline water (approximately 30%) are currently used for thermoelectric generation, this report focuses on freshwater because freshwater sources are becoming increasingly strained. Water consumption is used to describe the loss of that water, typically through evaporation into the air.