Power Generation from Sea Water Return

[patibar]

In one of our unit, we kept two restriction orifices in sea water return line (72") to create back pressure for adequate sea water distribution to other units. Now the problem is these orifices are choking with plastic material, which was lined inside a cement lined carbon steel piping. What I am thinking is generating power using this stream. If I do this, I can remove the orifices. Sea water return is available at 4.5 Kg/cm²g and 50°C @ 15000 m³/h. Can I go ahead with power generation using a turbine? Can anybody guide me in this?

Thanks.

 

[zdas04]

If you have the space you can certainly replace a forced dP with something doing work. A turbine would be more subject to damage from the plastic you are talking about, but I assume you have a plan for that. Expect to generate a small fraction of the power you are using to pump water, but recovering that fraction can be useful.

Another option to substitute an orifice with a work-producing element (that tends to be be less expensive) is to stick an eductor in the stream to replace an aux sea water pump (for example). This scheme uses the main flow to suck on the auxiliary line (instead of pushing on it with a pump). The total efficiency of this can be greater than a power turbine, but it is only available in limited cases (i.e., anything you pump with the eductor will end up contaminated with the power fluid so you can only go to the sea with it).

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

 

[LittleInch]

This lot look pretty interesting....

http://www.lucidenergy.com/company/

Seem to be just what you're looking for.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.