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

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