Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
High pressure
pump
High pressure
pump
Saline
feedwater
Saline
feedwater
Fresh water
Fresh water
Concentrate
discharge
Concentrate
discharge
Fig. 7.25 Main components of a reverse osmosis sea water desalination plant
Combined systems of seawater desalination and wind power stations are sensi-
ble, as contrary to power, storage of water is fairly simple. Hence, in periods of
low electric load, excessive power may be used for desalination, whereas the de-
salination plant may be disconnected from the grid at times of high power demand
and consumer water requirements may be covered by stored water.
Especially for islands, combinations of wind seawater desalination plants are
advantageous to adjust the usual imbalance between freshwater scarcity and high
water demand (e.g. by agriculture, tourism). There is thus a demand for desalina-
tion plants whose energy demand can ideally be covered by wind power stations,
since wind conditions are usually very favourable on islands. Exemplary plants
have been built on the Canary Islands as well as in the Aegean Sea. Desalination
plants are also often combined with wind-diesel systems whose supply is usually
more reliable.
7.3 Economic and environmental analysis
This section deals with the economic and environmental aspects of power genera-
tion by means of wind energy converters.
7.3.1 Economic analysis
Three grid-connected wind energy converters operated on the mainland (i.e. on-
shore installation) of different capacities (1.5, 2.5 and 5.0 MW) are considered as
representative. The converters are installed within a medium size wind park (con-
sisting of about 10 converters).
The rotors are provided with three blades made of glass fibre-reinforced plas-
tic, whereas towers are made of steel. For converter manufacturing, series produc-
tion is assumed. Converters are mounted on regular good load supporting soil;
shallow foundations are sufficient to ensure safe operation. Table 7.2 contains fur-
ther important reference parameters of reference wind energy converters and re-
veals the key figures of the most common converter models out of the vast variety
of the currently available designs. The referenced converters only refer to the
 
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