Previously I posted performance statistics from Tarong Power Station stating that water consumption (2003/2004 data) was 28 GL/yr. The following data from the South East Queensland Regional Water Supply Strategy is not in total agreement, stating that the combined consumption from Tarong and Swanbank is 27 GL/yr. Either way that’s a lot of water.

“Combined water consumption by Swanbank and Tarong Power Stations is more than 27,000ML/a, about 5% of SEQ’s overall supply. Based on discussions with the power companies and assuming that there is no move to dry cooling, consumption is expected to increase to more than 37,000ML/a in the next 10 years, depending upon the size and nature of new units commissioned at these sites by the power companies.”

These power stations use raw water for cooling purposes. 95% of the total water consumption at Swanbank and Tarong Power Stations is for this purpose. This can be contrasted with the dry-cooling system implemented at the recently commissioned Milmerran Power Station. Dry cooling systems are generally more expensive to install and to operate than “wet” cooling systems, but use much less water (as much as 95% less).”

“It is possible that the existing stations could be converted to dry cooling. The cost of this, for both the Swanbank and Tarong sites, would be of the order of $500M. More detailed investigations should be undertaken to establish this cost with greater certainty.”

Wow, about 40% of the supposed output of the Traveston Dam, for about 25% of the capital outlay. The technology already exists. It already exists in Queensland.

From another source:

Dry-cooled steam turbine generators
These are the most technologically advanced and water-efficient generators. A very small number ofpower stations in the world use dry-cooling technology. Millmerran Power Station, commissioned in 2002, is an example.

Dry-cooling is the process where the condenser water is cooled by air (like a car radiator) instead of in a cooling tower, where evaporative water losses are high. Dry-cooling cuts water consumption, compared to wet-cooling, by around 95%.

This still doesn’t sound as clever as smart desal. It eliminates the evaporative cooling, but doesn’t take advantage of the waste heat. On the other hand why aren’t we already doing it at Tarong, Tarong North, Swanbank, Callide, Collinsville and Stanwell. Hey Presto - No need for Travesto(n).