Study of Saline Water Use at the Etiwanda Generating Station

摘要

The report presents the results of a study to evaluate water treatment process options for the use of Palo Verde Irrigation Outfall Drain as a major water supply for a hypothetical coal-fired powerplant located in the Mojave Desert between Blythe, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The study was done in conjunction with a field test of ion exchange softening technology conducted at the Etiwanda Generating Station near San Bernardino, California. Data from the field test program were used to support the design and cost evaluations of ion exchange softening technology in the study. Sidestream lime/soda softening was the most cost-effective process option for treating Palo Verde Irrigation Outfall Drain water quality. Ion exchange softening technology, using cooling tower blowdown for regeneration appears to be technically viable based on short-term testing, and is likely to be competitive in cost for waters high in hardness, high in sodium, and low in silica.