Seawater DesalinationSeawater Desalinationthe heatedthe heated push for the futurepush for the future

Reverse osmosis (RO)Reverse osmosis (RO)vs.vs.

Distillation Distillation

Who will be the freshwater champ of 2004?Who will be the freshwater champ of 2004?

• By Robert Bennedsen and Chris StollBy Robert Bennedsen and Chris Stoll

Who in the world would use Who in the world would use this?this?

• Southwest Florida Water Southwest Florida Water Management DistrictManagement District

• Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia

• BahrainBahrain

• Several counties in CaliforniaSeveral counties in California

• 7,500 world wide!7,500 world wide!

• 60% is in the middle east60% is in the middle east

Is the United States using Is the United States using it?it?

• Yes, states like California have used this Yes, states like California have used this process due to the growing number of process due to the growing number of drought seasons in the state.drought seasons in the state.

• 12% of the total water separated is in the 12% of the total water separated is in the United States. most of which are in United States. most of which are in Florida and the Caribbean.Florida and the Caribbean.

• However with the higher cost of However with the higher cost of producing water production plans have producing water production plans have been limited. been limited.

Why is it important?Why is it important?

-Countries such as Iraq have little fresh -Countries such as Iraq have little fresh water.water.

-They depend on other sources to make -They depend on other sources to make fresh water.fresh water.

-Seawater is the most abundant resource.-Seawater is the most abundant resource.

-Reduces the dependence on natural -Reduces the dependence on natural fresh water. fresh water.

ProcessProcess

• Reverse Osmosis (RO)Reverse Osmosis (RO)

• Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO)Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO)

• http://cape.uwaterloo.ca/che100projehttp://cape.uwaterloo.ca/che100projects/sea/ro.htmlcts/sea/ro.html

How does it work?How does it work?

• Reverse Osmosis (RO)Reverse Osmosis (RO)

Is it efficient?Is it efficient?

• Fuel costs are high.Fuel costs are high.• Membrane changing is costly and Membrane changing is costly and

requires shutting down the factory.requires shutting down the factory.• Disposal of the salt/brine.Disposal of the salt/brine.• (RO) removes unwanted (RO) removes unwanted

contaminates.contaminates. --trihalomethane-precursors, pesticides, and trihalomethane-precursors, pesticides, and

bacteria.bacteria.

LimitationsLimitations

• Energy CostsEnergy Costs

• Pipeline CostsPipeline Costs

• Concentration DisposalConcentration Disposal

SolutionsSolutions

• Location of Desalination PlantsLocation of Desalination Plants

• NanofiltrationNanofiltration

• Pressure RecoveryPressure Recovery

CollocationCollocation

• Power PlantsPower Plants

• Method for DilutionMethod for Dilution

• Heated WaterHeated Water

Is it working?Is it working?

MSF MSF  RORO Others Others total total number of unitsnumber of units

Saudi Arabia 3,449  1,627 177 5,253 1,137Saudi Arabia 3,449  1,627 177 5,253 1,137

Emirates 1,944  140 80 2,165 169Emirates 1,944  140 80 2,165 169

Kuwait 1,469  52 17 1,538 69Kuwait 1,469  52 17 1,538 69

Qatar 510  3 - 513 6Qatar 510  3 - 513 6

Bahrain 161 129 19 309 111Bahrain 161 129 19 309 111

Iraq 11 233 89 333 110Iraq 11 233 89 333 110