(586g) Towards the Sustainable Use of Seawater for Process Cooling

Industrial cooling using seawater is a critical technology that results in one of the most profound environmental impacts on water quality and public health in Qatar and throughout the Arabian Gulf. The usage of chemical biocides to control growth of unwanted organisms leads to the discharge of enormous quantities of toxic and carcinogenic pollutants. These have a direct impact on aquatic life in the region which leads to subsequent impacts on the food chain. Additionally, there is a serious risk to human health, because the discharges are made to the same body of water used as a source of drinking water.

The impact of seawater cooling becomes increasingly pronounced with the implementation of gas and chemical processing mega-projects in the industrial cities Ras Laffan and Mesaieed. The problem has been identified to be of national interest to the State of Qatar and research is underway to assess environmental impacts and identify remedial actions. This paper will report on progress in the development and application of a holistic approach to developing optimal strategies for addressing the environmental, technical, and economic issues of seawater cooling systems. Sponsored by the Qatar National Research Fund under the National Research Program scheme, the research initiative aims to provide the world with the implementation tools needed to address this problem. The project has six key aims:

? To develop quantitative techniques for predicting the reaction mechanisms, kinetics, and characteristics of biocides and their reaction products.

? To develop computational tools to predict the fate of biocides and their reaction products within the system as well as after release into the environment.

? To develop process optimization tools that can identify highly efficient operational strategies and retrofit design alternatives for the seawater cooling systems.

? To develop process integration tools that can identify highly efficient design alternatives for the industrial process that requires cooling.

? To conduct case studies that assess the environmental impact and optimize the operation of cooling water systems at the industrial cities of Ras Laffan and Messaieed in collaboration with the governmental and industrial project partners.

? To develop knowledge and problem solving capacities of decision-makers and practicing engineers in Qatar's government and industry through technology transfer and advanced training schemes.

The project works towards the development of a scientific framework for sustainable strategies that address the environmental issues of seawater cooling, aid in developing sound regulatory policies, and describe short- and long-term implementation strategies.