Evaluation of CO2 Post Combustion Capture Integration with Combined Cycle Power and Desalination Co-generation Plant

With the conclusion that carbon capture is a viable option to mitigate climate change consequences considering the world's increasing energy demand and its continued dependence on fossil fuel is enforcing the industries and policy makers to focus on CO2 reduction techniques. The exponential increase in CO2 in the atmosphere might bring some form of penalties on industries emitting CO2 in large volume and credit to facilities reducing the emission through CO2 capture or use of green technology. Due to reduction in electrical output when CO2 plant is integrated with power plants, this has been the major challenge to deploying the available technology. The integration of Natural gas (NG) power plants with water desalination plants is a common practice in UAE and other areas in the GCC region. Thermal desalination plants are the major supplier of domestic water in the Gulf region. Therefore, this research is vital to the region to evaluate possible integration of NG power plants, thermal desalination and CO2 capture. The electrical output for the steam cycle shows a reduction by 7.8% constant water production of 12.38MIGD of distillate and overall reduction of 22.14% on integrating with capture plant. The integration shows availability of cooling water which can be used for cooling processes in the capture plant. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.