Nuclear Desalting: The Reality And The Promise

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31841, 20 November 1968, Page 22

Nuclear Desalting: The Reality And The Promise

JAMES T. RAMEY, a member of the United States Atomic Energy Commission) The conjunction of two new technologies—nuclear power and desalting—adds a vast new dimension to man’s continuing search for water and energy. Large dual-purpose nuclear plants could enable man to take advantage simultaneously of the vast energy resources of the atom and the vast raw material for fresh water in the oceans of the world.

Dual-purpose plants also hold promise for very favourable economics, so they are increasingly becoming major factors for consideration in water and power planning. The importance of desalting to the United States and to the world is readily apparent. The need for fresh water is a fundamental problem already facing many com munities, regions and nations. In some areas the shortage of water is a major and perhaps the single most important limitation on increasing the production of food to alleviate hunger—one of mankind's most challenging tasks. With these needs in mind, the United States established a vigorous programme for the development of desalting technology, with particular emphasis on large-scale nuclear desalting. It is a co-operative programme in which the United States Department of the Interior, through its Office of Saline Water, is responsible lor the desalting process technology, and the United States Atomic Energy Commission (A.E.C.) is responsible for the development of appropriate nuclear energy sources and their application. Near East Application Important as desalting may be to the United States, its role may be even niore critical in other countries whose waler problems are more urgent and acute. From the outset, therefore, the United states programme also has been oriented toward de'eloping desalting technology .'hat will be useful and available to water-short nations throughout the world. United States officials have studied the potential application of this technology to the Near East and the rim of the Mediterranean, including Treece, Israel and the United Vali Republic. Nuclear desalting has also been considered for Italy, Spain and

Tunisia, and may be consid-l ered in such areas as India] and Pakistan and eventually] Australia. During the last few years there have been many important landmarks, both in nuclear power and in desalting. Since the beginning of 1966, more than half of the new steam-electric generating capacity announced in the United States has been nuclear. Small desalting plants with more than 220 million gallons a day capacity were installed or under construction in the United Stales by the end of 1967, compared with only 107 million gallons a day three years earlier. Bright Prospects Considerable study and research has been and is being directed toward combining ’ the two technologies for large- ] scale nuclear desalting. The ( prospects for the future api pear bright. The current phase of this; work involves the development of large-scale prototypes and demonstration projects. 1 One of the immediate needs ; is to scale-up the size of desalting plants and operate • them in conjunction with the i scaled-up nuclear reactors alI ready available. Some critics contend that - desalted water is too costly to ’ have any widespread applica- ’ tion. A similar argument was . loudly voiced during the early jdays of nuclear power, but it , is evident in retrospect that I those views were not valid. ’ Many of the opponents to--day are comparing the cost J of desalting to the cost of I previously developed sup- ? plies and even to subsidised prices for water. The condi- ’ tions and criteria for evaluation must be clearly understood. Desalting offers a potential ’ for additional water supply rather than a substitute for ” existing water supplies. The ■ value of desalted water for ! blending with poorer quality ! water should not be overlooked. I When the A.E.C. set out to develop nuclear power, it was recognised that many of the demonstration projects would

in themselves not be economi.: cal. The nuclear prototypes and demonstration plants filled a very important role in achieving economical nuclear power: for the United States, however, by providing first-hand experience under utility conditions, by providing training facilities for the cadre of personnel on which to build the personnel staffing for later plants, and by serving to identify areas where important improvements could be made. Through this aproach, it was possible during the last 20 years to develop and to have accepted a viable new energy resource. Drawing on the technology and experience already available, the same success can be achieved, perhaps even sooner, for large-scale desalting. Limited Natural Supplies Natural water supplies are not endless, and the growing population of the world is ahead.. placing heavy burdens on man’s ability to provide fresh water in many areas. The planning and investigations for large-scale power and water plants have led some planners and scientists to give serious consideration to the possibility of even more advanced concepts—that of nuclear powered '"energy centres.” This is a i concept that has stimulated widespread discussion and injtcrest throughout the world. It has been generally recognised for some time that ] low-cost energy is a prerequisite for industrial developjment. One solution Io this ] problem would, be to comj bine power and water production in a single complex that could then be extended to include power-consuming industries. This integrated operation would be grouped round a large nuclear energy installation producing the needed low-cost power. Under this aproach, large quantities of low-cost energy would be available—perhaps both in the form of electricity and steam. This energy would be used for manufac-

turing vital products using; processes which might not] even be feasible at today’s] energy costs. In addition, large quantiles of waler could be produced by the energy centre, making possible irrigation for adjacent agricul-] tural production. From the standpoint of developing nations, such an integration and pooling of power - consuming industries might permit them to install larger power plants sooner, and thus enable them to take advantage of the benefits of low-cost nuclear energy more rapidly. Study Group The A.E.C. sponsored a study group at the Oak Ridge (Tennessee) National Laboratory this year to assess the potential of industrial and agro-industrial complexes incorporating the energy centre concept. The study considered two (general types of complexes—an industrial complex employing current reactor technology for complementary industrial process grouped round an energy source of one or two light-water reactors of approximately 500,000 to two million electrical kilowatts capacity, and an agro-industrial complex based on advanced versions of breeder reactors supplying energy to industrial plants, as well as to a large desalting plant. Possible Output The water from the dcsalt- . ing plant would be used for a “food 'actory” where con- | trolled irrigation methods ;and highly developed scientific management would be employed to enhance food production. This would require a very fine degree of management. For example, the water must be available and applied to crops at their critical growth stages: crop varieties developed for maximum yield for the local conditions must be used; and the area should have a 12-month growing season and be located near sea water. As a result of the studies

at Oak Ridge, one can also speculate about a possible industrial complex centred round a one million electrical kilowatt reactor. Such a complex would, of course, be based on the availability of local raw materials, the existence of suitable markets and consideration of other factors such as transportation facilities. A representative output nf such a complex could bo ?50 tons a dav each of elemental phosphorous, chlorine, and caustic: 400 tons a day of ammonia: and 550 tons a dav of oxygen. In addition, such a plant could also furnish 100.000 kilowatts of power to the electric network for other uses Based on the Oak Ridee I studies, one might also envision an agro-industrial complex based upon a two million electrical kilowatt reactor and a desalting plant with a capacity of 500 million gallons per day. A variety of crops would be grown on about 140.000 acres of surrounding desert, using irrigation. Products manufactured jwould include salt, chlorine, ammonia, phosphorus (from phosphate rock), and caustic. The United States has been considering possible energy jcentre applications in India, and it hopes to study the prospects in Puerto Rico. Recently, I the A.E.C. announced a special study of the benefits that the application of this concept ] could provide in the Middle East. All of this is not to imply that the potentials of the atom and desalting can be realised without a sustained effort by many groups, including government, industry and utilities, and also by America’s friends abroad. There will be many problems which will have to be resolved. New technologies will have to be introduced. And, there will be a need for continuing research and development, engineering, pilot | plants, prototypes and demonstration projects if the full ] benefits of nuclear desalting are to be gained.—U.S.l.S.