Kemper County Energy Project Successfully Commissions Zero Liquid Discharge Facility
| Challenge: | The Kemper County Energy project faced challenges in treating wastewater from the City of Meridian for makeup water while meeting strict quality standards and discharge regulations. |
| Solution: | To address these challenges, Kemper County Energy partnered with Aquatech to commission a complete makeup water treatment and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) facility. |
| Result: | By effectively recycling all wastewater generated within the facility, the project achieved its ZLD objectives, ensuring that no processed water was discharged into rivers, creeks, or streams. |
This case study discusses how Aquatech's integrated water treatment solutions at the Kemper County Energy project met strict quality standards and established environmental responsibility through successful zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technology.
Aquatech successfully commissioned a complete makeup water treatment and ZLD facility at the 582 MW Kemper County Energy project.
Aquatech successfully commissioned a complete makeup water treatment and ZLD facility at the 582 MW Kemper County Energy project.
Reverse osmosis technology
Conventional demineralization technology
Forced Circulation Crystallizer
Providing a Zero Liquid Discharge System for an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Project
The Kemper County Energy project, located near DeKalb, Mississippi, is one of the United States' few Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) projects, boasting a 582 MW capacity. Utilizing Transport Integrated Gasification (TRIG™) technology developed by Southern Company and Kellogg Brown & Root, this project presented unique challenges regarding water supply and environmental responsibility.
Challenge
The Kemper County Energy project faced several formidable challenges. The plant's water supply was sourced from treated wastewater from the City of Meridian, necessitating advanced treatment processes to meet the strict quality requirements for the IGCC plant's makeup water.
Additionally, the commitment to operate as a ZLD facility presented a complex technical challenge, demanding efficient treatment and recycling of all wastewater generated within the plant to prevent any liquid discharge into the surrounding rivers, creeks, or streams.
Solution
Southern Company Services purchased a water and wastewater system from Aquatech on an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) basis, highlighting the need for a comprehensive solution aligned with sustainability objectives while ensuring the project's successful execution.
The project scope included design, fabrication, erection, commissioning, and operation of makeup water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities for a five-year term. Leveraging its experience in providing water treatment facilities to three out of four known IGCC plants in the USA, Aquatech assumed the role of a single supplier responsible for all aspects of the project.
Aquatech deployed a range of advanced water treatment technologies, including ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), conventional demineralization, and thermal evaporation-based ZLD. The components delivered included:
- Make-up systems 2 X 380 GPM each (86 m³/hr) – UF, RO, mixed bed
- Mobile ion exchange demineralization 700 GPM (151 m³/hr)
- Two trains Brine Concentrator 2 x 50% 400 GPM each (91m³/hr)
- Two trains Forced Circulation Crystallizer 2 x 50% 40 GPM each (9 m³/hr)
- Comprehensive water analysis solutions
Result
The successful commissioning of the complete makeup water treatment and ZLD facility at the Kemper County Energy project met stringent water quality requirements. It exemplified the potential for sustainable water management in energy-intensive industrial settings.
By effectively recycling all wastewater generated within the facility, the project achieved its ZLD objectives, ensuring that no processed water was discharged into rivers, creeks, or streams. Mississippi Power's selection of Aquatech as the lowest life cycle cost and most environmentally friendly option underscores the company's dedication to providing innovative and eco-conscious water treatment solutions.
In conclusion, the partnership between the Kemper County Energy project and Aquatech showcases the successful implementation of advanced water treatment technologies and environmentally responsible practices within the energy sector. This case study underscores the potential for sustainable solutions in addressing complex water challenges within industrial settings and emphasizes the importance of effective collaboration between technology providers and project stakeholders.