Water Desalination Plant
Course Name: Thermodynamics II
ME 300
Semester: Summer 2024
Introduction
Desalination is the process of removing dissolved solids from water.
Desalination continues to move toward the forefront.
Desalination can be complex, energy-intensive, and expensive.
Membrane and thermal are the two primary types of desalination
processes.
Desalination technology is applicable to both seawater and brackish
water.
Problem Definition Statement
SHUAIBA is located at Arabian Gulf, Persian Gulf in Kuwait.
The primary issues SHUAIBA is facing with water are the growing
shortage of water and the growing costs and consequences.
Design-build-operate contracts are used to award the majority of large
plants.
We may very well anticipate seeing more rapid innovation uptake.
It is hoped that traditional business models will change to incorporate
early adoption of new technologies.
Restrictions and Challenges
Economic
Unpredictable and fluctuating seawater conditions have the
potential to overwhelm seawater desalination plants' intake
pretreatment systems.
Stand-by dissolved-air flotation systems may be installed but with a
high capital cost.
Regular inspections entail doing periodic checks.
Restrictions and Challenges
Environmental
Releasing RO brine into ocean environments may be detrimental.
Dilution and diffusers are necessary in some countries before and
during the release.
Desalination is shifting more and more away due to high energy costs.
A concerns is the harm that seawater intake systems cause to marine
life.
The impacts of intake systems can be lessened by the utilization of
subsurface intakes.
Restrictions and Challenges
Technological
Regular inspections entail doing periodic checks.
Contaminants build up on the membrane's surface and essentially
plug it, causing fouling.
Higher running costs and the eventual need to clean or replace the
RO membranes.
Particulate and other substances can all lead to fouling.
Scaling may happen as some dissolved inorganic compounds get
more concentrated.
Restrictions and Challenges
Social
The cost of desalinated water is higher than that of conventional
sources.
10 fills per kilowatt and KD 2.5 for every 1,000 imperial water
gallons will be levied to the industrial and agricultural sectors,
respectively.
The public may be hesitant or concerned about desalination.
Concerns over the safety and health of desalinated water may
exist.
Desalination Methods
Multi-stage flash distillation (MSF)
The feed moves on to the initial stage, where the flash process
begins.
One stage of flashing leads to another.
The produced vapour condenses on each of the preheaters
The distillate is gathered and taken out from the final stage.
The final stage rejects the concentrated brine flow into the ocean.
Multi-effect distillation (MED)
Once the evaporation temperature is reached, the feed flow enters the
first stage.
Without any heat recovery, the distillate generated in each step will be
gathered and drained off.
Without considering the flashing, the concentrate moves on to the next
step.
The stage after functions as a condenser for the steam produced in the
stage before.
Vapor compression distillation (VCD)
Feed water is sent into an evaporator to produce vapor by heating it
even more.
The evaporator runs at low pressure, below atmospheric pressure.
The evaporator compresses the vapor thermally or mechanically.
The vapor's temperature and pressure rise.
A condenser is used to condense the compressed vapor.
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Osmosis is a natural tendency for a less concentrated solution to move
toward a more concentrated solution.
Pushing water through a semi-permeable membrane to remove
dissolved solids.
Water molecules can pass through membrane.
Pressure must be applied that is higher than the osmotic pressure.
Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Nearly all (95% to 99%) of the dissolved salts are left behind.
The salt content determines how much pressure is needed.
Factors affecting the efficiency of membrane are:
Feed and Permeate pressure
Concentrate pressure
Feed and Permeate conductivity
Concentrate flow
Permeate flow
Temperature
Other Desalination Methods
Forward osmosis (FO) uses osmotic pressure to force
water from a saline or contaminated water feed
solution through a semi-permeable membrane while
holding onto the dissolved solutes.
Solar stills use the heat from the sun to evaporate
water, which is subsequently condensed to produce
fresh water.
A freeze-desalination (FD) process involves partially
freezing the solution initially, separating the ice
crystals from the residual solution.
Sources of Heat for the Desalination Process
Natural Resources
In direct systems, solar energy is collected to desalinate seawater in a single
process.
Photovoltaic cells are utilized to convert solar radiation into electricity, or solar
collectors are used to collect heat.
Both desalination processes may benefit from the use of geothermal heat
sources.
An affordable, environmentally friendly, and sustainable energy source.
Waste Heat
In MD plants, the evaporation process was powered by low-grade
waste heat.
Significant endeavors undertaken to enhance the overall MD
performance.
There is a vast amount of low-grade waste heat that is available
without increasing CO2 emissions.
Operating MD systems integrated with waste heat is financially
advantageous.
Combination with Power Plants
Normally, the steam is only slightly heated.
MSF and MED plants need to heat steam at a low temperature and pressure.
High pressure needs to be lowered before it reaches the evaporator plant's heat
exchanger.
This is accomplished by utilizing a throttle valve in conjunction with water
injection.
Alternative Energy
Desalination plants and wind farms linked to a traditional distribution grid.
If more energy is generated, it is deposited into the conventional grid.
If not enough energy is generated to run the desalination plant, the grid
provides the additional energy needed.
Various techniques are used in combined wind or tidal power-desalination
systems.
References
Mark Crawford. Published: May 6, 2020. 8 Engineering Challenges for Desalination
Technologies. From:
https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/8-engineering-challenges-for-desalination-te
chnologies
. (Accessed: July 2024).
Kuwait Times. Published: April 22, 2017. MEW: New electricity, water tariffs aim at
rationalization. From:
https://kuwaittimes.com/mew-new-electricity-water-tariffs-aim-rationalization/. (Accessed:
July 2024).
Jane Kucera. 15 April 2019. Desalination: Water from Water. Wiley. 2nd Edition.
DOI:10.1002/9781119407874.
Puretec Industrial Water. Updated: 2024. The Basics of Reverse Osmosis. From:
https://puretecwater.com/resources/the-basics-of-reverse-osmosis/. (Accessed: July 2024).
