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Thermo-economic analysis of a continuous power-plant waste heat cascade for crop drying and HDH seawater desalination
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DOI：10.1016/j.seppur.2026.139658.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Waste heat from power plants offers a reliable, continuous source of high-temperature thermal energy for operating crop-drying and seawater desalination systems, supporting steady, higher rates of freshwater production and improving crop-drying quality. This, in turn, helps to alleviate the escalating stresses on energy supplies and freshwater availability. So, the present study proposes a hybrid innovative system that integrates a drying unit with a seawater desalination unit based on HDH technology, powered by waste heat recovered from a real power plant. The thermodynamic and economic performance of the suggested innovative hybrid unit was theoretically evaluated using real exhaust gas data collected from the operating system control panel of the real power plant, over 24 h, ensuring that the analysis reflects realistic, time-varying operating conditions. The process of recovering waste heat in power plants is characterized by a stable, continuous source of heat throughout the year. The simulation results showed that the suggested innovative integrated system could dry 53,600 kg of fresh ivy gourd per day to a safe moisture content of 10% (w.b.). Also, the proposed innovative integrated system produces 4917.19 m3/day of freshwater, with an average gain-output ratio of 2.13 and specific electricity consumption of 0.91 kWh/m3. Economically, the cost of producing freshwater was 1.51 $/m3 over a 15-year plant lifespan and an electricity price of 0.04 $/kWh. The results indicate that the proposed innovative system can provide freshwater at a reasonable cost while utilizing waste heat that would otherwise be released into the environment.
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