Thermoeconomic analysis of a coupled municipal solid waste thermovalorization-MSF desalination plant: an Italian case study

A thermoeconomic analysis of a cogenerative system with steam bleedings produced starting from the thermal energy recovered in a municipal solid waste thermovalorization plant is presented. The authors assume that the bled steam is used to feed a seawater multi-stage flash (MSF) desalination plant. A case study was carried out for the desalination plant, which operates in Raffineria di Gela (Sicily). In particular, the MSF process is described and the most significant features of the plant are presented. Besides, an economic analysis of a hypothetically coupled MSW thermovalorization-MSF plant was carried out to estimate the capital and operating costs and the gain derived from the sale of distilled water.