Allocating heat and electricity in an Integrated Energy System coupled with a water purification system

An Integrated Energy System (IES) can consist of some combination of an energy source, industrial process, and battery. There is growing interest in the use of nuclear energy as the source in an effort to increase its value. Some research also considers the use of a renewable source with a nuclear reactor in a load following capacity. IES design can quickly become complicated in terms of the operational requirements, selection of renewable source, and determining the appropriate industrial process, which itself will involve many factors; e.g., region, regulations, raw materials, etc. Fundamentally, the IES must be profitable and generate revenue reliably. carbon free electricity generation. Industrial processes, such as desalinating water or hydrogen production, can strictly use electricity produced by the NPP, or they can be thermally coupled to use heat directly from the nuclear reactor. This paper focuses on the potential economic and thermodynamic benefits of thermally coupling an industrial process to a Nuclear Power Plant in an IES in comparison to electrically coupling. We have developed an Aspen HYSYS model of Palo Verde Generating Station (PV) coupled to both a thermal Multi-Stage Flash Distillation (MSF) water purification system as well as an electrically coupled Reverse Osmosis (RO) system. To compare the different couplings, this paper applies an economic exergy analysis through the use of ‘exergy revenue’. Results demonstrate the differences between the two types of water purification technologies and also show the range of prices which make coupling a water purification system to Palo Verde Generating Station economically viable. •An Integrated Energy System is modeled for exergy revenue using Palo Verde Generating Station data.•Reverse Osmosis systems are favored for exergy revenue.•Exergy revenue varies with water prices.•Exergy revenue is insensitive to electricity prices.•Palo Verde Generating Station can use water purification systems to meet plant needs.•Seasonal demand will be a challenge in allocating energy.