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Standards Development
This document provides guidelines for treatment of high-salinity wastewater generated during the water reuse process in thermal power plants. The key contents are as follows: types and properties of highsalinity wastewater; technical essentials of pretreatment, concentration, solidification, and typical process combinations; technical requirements for operation of high-salinity wastewater treatment systems; technical requirements for resource recovery and waste disposal. The Guidelines provide technical guidance for selecting treatment processes for high-salinity wastewater associated with water reuse in thermal power plants. This document applies to treatment of various high-salinity wastewater such as reverse osmosis concentrate, ion exchange regeneration wastewater, and desulfurization wastewater associated with water reuse in thermal power plants.
Thermal power generation is the primary method of electricity production worldwide. As of 2023, the global operational installed capacity of coal-fired power plants has reached 2130 GW[1], accounting for 35.2% of the total global electricity generation (29,925 TWh)[2]. Thermal power generation requires substantial water resources, with coal-fired units' water intake currently at an average of approximately 1.0 m³/MWh[3]. As global water scarcity becomes increasingly severe, water reuse has become essential for the sustainable development of thermal power plants. Water reuse is usually associated with the generation of a significant amount of high-salinity wastewater, such as reverse osmosis concentrate, ion exchange regeneration wastewater, and desulfurization wastewater. Due to high salinity, hardness, chloride ions, and sulfate ions, such wastewater cannot be directly reused, and its direct discharge would lead to severe environmental pollution[4]. The treatment of high-salinity wastewater has become a key but difficult issue for the comprehensive treatment of wastewater from thermal power plants. Relevant policies and requirements have been issued for the treatment and discharge of wastewater from thermal power plants in the USA, China, Europe, and other countries and regions[5-9]; A few relevant standards or guidelines have also been established in the world, such as ISO 23044:2020[10], ISO 4789:2023[11], and ISO/TS 21152:2024[12]. These policies, standards, or guidelines provide guidance for softening and desalination of industrial wastewater, treatment and reuse of wastewater from thermal power plants, and water saving in circulating cooling water systems, but do not involve any treatment technology for high-salinity wastewater from thermal power plants. Additionally, due to variations in fuels, installed capacities, water sources, and water treatment processes across thermal power plants in different regions, high-salinity wastewater varies significantly in terms of type, quality, and volume. This variation presents challenges in wastewater classification and property analysis. Furthermore, high-salinity wastewater associated with water reuse in thermal power plants can be treated with multiple techniques including membrane concentration, thermal concentration, evaporative crystallization and solidification, and drying with flue gas waste heat. These techniques differ in their unique advantages and applicable conditions, resulting in considerable challenges in optimizing process systems. Therefore, it is essential to formulate the international standard "Guidelines for treatment of high-salinity wastewater generated during the water reuse process in thermal power plants", which will meet the significant market need and foster international cooperation. The formulation of this document will address the lack of international standards for the treatment of high-salinity wastewater associated with water reuse in thermal power plants. It will facilitate the improvement and promotion of treatment technologies for high-salinity wastewater from thermal power plants, thus enhancing the industry’s overall technical competency. The purpose of drafting this Proposal is to achieve the following objectives: (1) Provide feasible technical guidelines for the treatment and reuse of high-salinity wastewater produced during water reuse in thermal power plants, and foster the improvement and promotion of treatment technologies for high-salinity wastewater from thermal power plants; (2) Enhance awareness of water conservation and environmental protection in thermal power plants, improve the industry's overall level of environmental protection, and achieve goals of sustainable development.
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