Title : Innovative strategies for water cycle optimization in thermal power plants: enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and water resource management
Abstract:
Thermal power plants are expected to remain an essential component of the global energy mix during the transition toward low-carbon energy systems. However, increasing water scarcity, stricter environmental regulations, and the need for higher operational efficiency have made water resource management one of the most critical challenges facing the power generation sector. This presentation introduces a comprehensive framework for optimizing the water cycle in thermal power plants, with the objective of improving water-use efficiency, reducing freshwater consumption, enhancing operational reliability, and supporting sustainable plant operation.
The proposed strategy integrates operational improvements, advanced water treatment technologies, chemical process optimization, and systematic monitoring into a unified roadmap. Key short-term measures include optimization of cooling tower makeup water, increasing cooling tower cycles of concentration, improved chemical treatment programs, leak detection and repair, and enhanced monitoring of water quality and process performance. Medium- and long-term solutions focus on wastewater reclamation and reuse, recovery of cooling tower blowdown, boiler blowdown and clean drain condensates, recycling of reverse osmosis concentrate, condensate polishing systems, advanced wastewater treatment technologies, modernization of cooling systems, and the implementation of innovative water recycling schemes.
The presentation also highlights several practical research and development projects conducted in Iranian thermal power plants, including water consumption assessments, optimization of chemical control regimes, cooling water recovery, feasibility studies for advanced pretreatment systems, and development of operational guidelines for sustainable water management. Future initiatives include preparing a national water atlas for thermal power plants, expanding wastewater recycling projects, applying artificial intelligence to chemical control and water management, and developing national best-practice guidelines.
Finally, a phased implementation roadmap is proposed, beginning with comprehensive assessment and data collection, followed by rapid low-cost operational improvements, infrastructure modernization, strengthened regulatory and knowledge frameworks, and ultimately nationwide deployment of optimized water management practices. The proposed approach demonstrates that integrating technological innovation, chemical optimization, digital monitoring, and strategic planning can substantially reduce water consumption while maintaining plant performance and contributing to long-term environmental sustainability and resilience in thermal power generation.
