‘Smoke’ From Factory Chimneys Proves to be Valuable Water Source
By Kema, PRNESunday, July 17, 2011
ARNHEM, The Netherlands and BEIJING, July 18, 2011 -
- KEMA to Present Strongly Improved Clean
Technology at the
7thInternational Symposium
on Coal Combustion in Harbin, P.R. China
It appears that so much high-grade water can be recovered
from flue gases of factory chimneys, as a result of strongly
improved membrane technology, that industrial plants in arid
areas can make a valuable contribution to the
world‘s water shortage.
Field tests and ten years of preliminary research have shown
that these plants can change from water consumers to
water producers. The captured water can be used for
both industrial and consumptive use. In addition, a
lot of energy can be saved in the industrial
process - and thus reduce costs
as well as CO2-emissions -
in several industrial processes. These
possibilities present themselves in industries that require much
water e.g. for cooling applications, generating steam
or for drying processes, such as in the
food, paper, cement, energy and petrochemical
sectors. Commissioned by the European Union and led
by global energy services firm KEMA,
fourteen partners from Europe, the Middle East and
Africa are working together on a follow-up to this
research. The projecthas drawn broad interest from
all parts of the world and can add value to the Chinese
industry as well. KEMA will present this strongly
improved clean technology on Tuesday, July
19, at the
International Symposium on Coal Combustion (ISCC)
in Harbin, P.R. China. Aside from the water
capture capabilities of this membrane technology, an important
breakthrough with membrane technology to capture
CO2 from flue gases has also been
achieved. This large European funded project (
structured membranes against Global
Warming) which is also led by global energy
services firm KEMA with twenty six partners from Europe and the
Middle East, will help fuel the breakthrough of this
clean technology.
From ten years preliminary research to
large-scale tests
Ten years’ research and testing under the leadership of the
energy services firm KEMA, in collaboration with the European
Membrane Institute at the University of Twente and a number of
Dutch utilities, have resulted in significantly improved gas
separation membranes with which water vapor can in principle be
captured on a large scale. As a follow-up, KEMA, under contract to
the European Union, together with thirteen partners from Europe,
the Middle East and Africa, has started with the development of a
number of large-scale tests at power stations in Spain and Israel,
a geo-thermal well in Tunisia and paper factories in the
Netherlands and South Africa. These tests are to confirm the
industrial production and large-scale implementation of this new
technology.
From water consumer to water
producer
Tests in industrial plants in the Netherlands and Germany have
demonstrated that at least 40% of the water in the flue gases can
be recovered with the new membrane technology. Beforehand,
researchers counted on a recovery of 20%. With 40% recovery, an
average power plant can supply twice as much water as it needs for
steam generation. The power plant thus changes from water consumer
to water producer. The amount of water saved for a 400 megawatt
power plant, corresponds to the yearly consumption of about 3,500
Western households or about 9,500 African households. The quality
of the recovered water is so high that it can be employed not only
for demineralized water use for the industry but also for
consumption purposes. For this reason there are three African
partners in the consortium and two from the Middle East. Initial
calculations moreover show that hundreds of millions of euros can
be saved annually with this new technology. The new project bears
the name
‘Capture of evaporated Water with novel
membranes’.
Broad consortium
Participants in the CapWa project (in alphabetical order) are:
Brabant Water (the Netherlands), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
(Institute for Membrane Technology, Italy), Cut GmbH & Co. KG
(Germany), École Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Tunis (Tunisia), Gas
Natural Fenosa (Spain), Israel Electric Corporation Ltd. (Israel),
KEMA (the Netherlands), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology Kumasi (Ghana), Membrana GmbH (Germany),
Papiertechnische Stiftung (Germany), Sappi Ltd. (South Africa &
the Netherlands), Stichting Kenniscentrum Papier en Karton (the
Netherlands), University of Twente - European Membrane Institute
(the Netherlands) and Yodfat Engineers Ltd. (Israel).
Thijs Aarten, chairman of the Executive Board
of KEMA:
“The Chinese industry has made significant steps
in its process to turn itself into a sustainable
industry. Many countries around the world can
certainly learn from the great efforts being made in
China. I am convinced that this clean
technology to convert water vapor into industrial and drinking
waterand to capture
CO2can add further value to the Chinese
industry; both in terms of sustainability, as well as economic
benefits.“
About the International Symposium on
Coal Combustion
The ISCC, sponsored and
organized by Tsinghua University, has been held six times since
1987 and will now be held for the 7th time in July 2011,
the year of the Centennial Anniversary of Tsinghua University. The
Symposium is offering a platform for scientists and engineers to
exchange information and ideas on the science and technology of
coal combustion, as well as related issues, and to find new
partnerships in the growing commercial market of China. Given the
size of its industry in general and the power industry in
particular, developments on clean technology in China will have a
global impact.
About KEMA
KEMA, set up in 1927, is an independent knowledge provider that
is active around the world in the energy value chain. It
specializes in high-value services in the area of business &
technical consultancy, operational support, measurements &
inspections as well as testing & certification. As an
independent company, KEMA advises and supports government
organizations as well as producers, suppliers and end users of
energy. In addition, the company carries out testing and
certification of electricity transmission and distribution
equipment, as well as other energy related equipment. More than
1,700 professionals work at KEMA, which has offices and
representations in more than 20 countries around the world.
For more information about this press release, contact Rolf van Stenus, KEMA Corporate Press Officer by telephone at +31-26-3-56-2607 or by e-mail at: rolf.vanstenus at kema.com).
Tags: Arnhem, China, July 18, KEMA, Netherlands, The Netherlands And Beijing
