The incorporation of Hygroscopic Cycle Technology (HCT) into the cooling system will provide the plant, among other advantages:
The main advantages obtained are:
The Hygroscopic Cycle is a thermodynamic cycle that uses a steam absorber where hygroscopic compounds come into direct contact with the steam flow, allowing the steam to condense without water consumption and in an efficient way.
The physical and chemical principles of this technology evolve the Rankine cycle by providing higher net electric efficiency, better cooling conditions, elimination or significant reduction of cooling water, reduction of O&M and investment costs, and greater operational flexibility.
This cycle can include all improvements incorporated into the Rankine cycle (increase in initial expansion pressure, reduction of final expansion pressure, steam superheating, reheating, regeneration, supercritical conditions).
Smaller volume than ACC, better efficiency, especially at ambient temperatures above 25°C.
Net electric efficiency equal to or greater than cooling towers. Cooling water consumption is eliminated.
Lower annual self-consumption of electricity compared to previous systems.
No power limitation and lower operating and maintenance costs compared to traditional systems.
The Rankine cycle is a thermodynamic cycle aimed at converting heat into work. Any thermal power plant that produces electricity operates under this cycle (biomass plants, nuclear, solar thermal, cogeneration, etc.).
Among the main components of any Rankine cycle (boiler, pump, and turbine), the condensation of the exit steam from the turbine is essential. To achieve this condensation, cooling towers can be used, which operate based on evaporative cooling at the expense of water consumption, or “dry” technologies that use ambient air to condense the steam.
Currently, the water consumption associated with a cooling tower is around 3.8 m³/h per megawatt of electricity produced. This consumption is mainly due to water evaporation within the tower and the purges to avoid mineral concentration. As an example, a 50 MW biomass plant (roughly sufficient to supply 12,500 homes), operating 7800 hours a year, would consume around 1.5 million cubic meters annually, equivalent to 440 Olympic swimming pools.
Thus, cooling tower water consumption is significant, especially in thermal solar plants located in regions with high water stress, where higher production coincides with the driest months of the year.
In addition to the visual impact caused by the plume and high water consumption, cooling towers also have the following disadvantages:
The hygroscopic cycle can be used and has already been successfully implemented in the following two applications:
It can currently be applied commercially to power plants that use a Rankine cycle at any power level.
Most equipment and materials are the same as those used in a Rankine cycle (turbine, boiler, deaerator, pumps, etc.).
Can be implemented in new plants or by improving existing ones.
All equipment and materials are commercial and 100% guaranteed by the manufacturers.
Research and development, as well as commercialization and implementation, are carried out internally.
The technology can be applied to any process that requires steam condensation or emits gases containing a high amount of humidity, such as those from drying systems.
It can be implemented in both new and existing plants.
Sectors: paper, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, petrochemical, food, steel, chemical, etc.
Se estima que alrededor de 53.000 millones de metros cúbicos de agua dulce se emplean para la producción termoeléctrica mundial.
Disminución de emisiones de CO2 y otros gases (NOx, SOx…) por kWh producido.
Al minimizar el impacto visual en el entorno natural evitando grandes columnas de vapor de agua (penachos) y grandes estructuras como las ACC.
Esta tecnología seca, evita los efluentes protegiendo el medio ambiente, flora y fauna así como la eliminación de la emisión de microorganismos y bacterias como la legionella.
Permite la ubicación de las plantas de generación basadas en ciclos termodinámicos, en zonas de escasez de H2O o donde pueda requerirse un bajo impacto ambiental.
La turbina de vapor funciona a plena carga con las presiones de condensación más bajas posibles durante más horas al año, con un menor promedio anual de autoconsumo eléctrico.
Aumenta la vida de la planta, la fiabilidad y disponibilidad. Los equipos implementados son estándar sin ninguna modificación, y muy fáciles de operar y mantener.
Compatible con todas las mejoras del Ciclo Rankine. Posibilidad de implementación tanto en plantas nuevas como ya existentes.
Ahorro del consumo agua de refrigeración.
Disminución de los costes de O&M.
La operación de esta tecnología permite un ahorro sustancial de consumo de combustible.
Ahorros en los consumos de agua demi y aditivos de aporte al ciclo del agua en los circuitos de refrigeración.
Disminución de los costes de inversión del ciclo de vapor.
La disminución de los costes de O&M unido al mejor rendimiento eléctrico neto, aumenta la competitividad de la planta.
Disminución de los costes de implantación y puesta en marcha respecto a otros sistemas tradicionales.