Reuse: Industrial
Content Table
- Industrial process water
- Cooling water
- Steam production
- Process water
- Other industrial uses
- Related Articles
- References
- Links
Industrial process water
Industrial uses of recycled water range from large volumes of low quality water for cleaning and cooling applications to high quality process water for manufacturing or boiler feedwater.
In some cases water can be recycled internally within an industrial plant to achieve zero discharge of wastewater. Other industrial plants can use large quantities of recycled water from municipal sources for process needs.
Cooling water
Large quantities of cooling water are used in thermal electricity generating plants and in manufacturing plants such as steel-making plants.
Steam production
Steam is used in power plants and many industrial processes. High grade recycled water may be used for boiler feedwater after supplementary demineralisation treatment to prevent corrosion and scaling.
Examples
Eraring, Australia: At the Eraring Power Station north of Sydney, recycled water receives dual membrane treatment and is used as boiler feedwater, providing steam for the turbines. The recycled water replaces 2740m3/day of freshwater from the urban supply system.
At Santa Rosa in California, recycled water is used together with local groundwater for steam generation in a geothermal power plant. Recycled water quality requirements are not as stringent as boiler feedwater.
Process water
Pulp and paper and textile plants require large quantities of process water. Internal water recycling has been used to reduce the amount of fresh water needed. Recycled water is used in some plants but is best suited to lower grade papers such as cardboard.
Recycled water can be used in various textile production processes including carpet-dyeing and cotton fabrication.
High grade recycled water can be used in specialised manufacturing processes such as the manufacture of industrial chemicals. In Singapore, recycled water from the NEWater plants is used for semiconductor manufacture.
Other industrial uses
Other industrial uses include:
· Mineral processing
· Concrete making
· Cleaning and dust control in industrial premises.
Related Articles
Recent Papers; Industrial Reuse
References
Asano, T. et al (2007) Water reuse: issues, technologies and applications, McGraw-Hill New York, ISBN-13: 978-0-07-145927-3, Part 4: Water Reuse Applications
- Chapter 19: Industrial Uses of Reclaimed Water;
Links
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