On the identification of optimal utility corridor locations in interplant water network synthesis Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Studies involving the design of interplant water networks have received significant attention over the past few years. Many methods have been developed to assist in obtaining efficient water reuse network design schemes, mainly using fundamental concepts of water integration. Our recent work has presented the importance of considering spatial constraints in the form of utility corridor availability, when identifying costeffective interplant water network arrangements in industrial zones (Alnouri et al., [2014]: Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy 16, 16371659). This article extends the scope of our previous work by enabling the identification of new corridor locations, which could potentially be used alongside existing utility infrastructure. We present an optimization framework that allows unutilized areas of land within industrial zones to be sectioned off and added as optional transportation channels, together with existing utility corridor regions, in the course of attaining costeffective interplant water network designs. The methodology entails that identification of optimal wastewater reuse schemes among various processing entities, by exploring options for enhanced utility corridors. As an illustration, several cases that utilize an assumed layout for an industrial zone have been carried out, in which a number of unutilized regions of land were identified to exist. Several opportunities that allow for potential corridor additions onto existing corridor infrastructure, through the exploitation of unutilized regions of land within the plot, were explored. A number of improvements in the water network designs obtained are highlighted for the different case scenarios that have been investigated, using the proposed approach. 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 35: 14921511, 2016

published proceedings

  • ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

author list (cited authors)

  • Alnouri, S. Y., Linke, P., Stijepovic, M., & El-Halwagi, M.

citation count

  • 4

complete list of authors

  • Alnouri, Sabla Y||Linke, Patrick||Stijepovic, Mirko||El-Halwagi, Mahmoud

publication date

  • September 2016

publisher