Steam recovery from flue gas by organosilica membranes for simultaneous harvesting of water and energy
Norihiro Moriyama, Akihiro Takeyama, Taichi Yamatoko, Ken‐ichi Sawamura, Koji Gonoi, Hiroki Nagasawa, Masakoto Kanezashi, Toshinori Tsuru
Abstract
Steam recovery from the spent gases from flues could be a key step in addressing the water shortage issue while additionally benefiting energy saving. Herein, we propose a system that uses organosilica membranes consisting of a developed layered structure to recover steam and latent heat from waste. Proof-of-concept testing is conducted in a running incinerator plant. The proposed system eliminates the need for a water supply while simultaneously recovering latent heat from the waste stream. First, the long-term stability of an organosilica membrane is confirmed over the course of six months on a laboratory-scale under a simulated waste stream. Second, steam recovery is demonstrated in a running waste incinerator plant (bench-scale), which confirms the steady operation of this steam recovery system with a steam recovery rate comparable to that recorded in the laboratory-scale test. Third, process simulation reveals that this system enables water-self-reliance with energy recovery that approximates 70% of waste combustion energy.