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Designing cost-effective seawater reverse osmosis system under optimal energy options

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  • Gilau, Asmerom M.
  • Small, Mitchell J.

Abstract

Today, three billion people around the world have no access to clean drinking water and about 1.76 billion people live in areas already facing a high degree of water stress. This paper analyzes the cost-effectiveness of a stand alone small-scale renewable energy-powered seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) system for developing countries. In this paper, we have introduced a new methodology; an energy optimization model which simulates hourly power production from renewable energy sources. Applying the model using the wind and solar radiation conditions for Eritrea, East Africa, we have computed hourly water production for a two-stage SWRO system with a capacity of 35m3/day. According to our results, specific energy consumption is about 2.33kWh/m3, which is a lower value than that achieved in most of the previous designs. The use of a booster pump, energy recovery turbine and an appropriate membrane, allows the specific energy consumption to be decreased by about 70% compared to less efficient design without these features. The energy recovery turbine results in a reduction in the water cost of about 41%. Our results show that a wind-powered system is the least cost and a PV-powered system the most expensive, with finished water costs of about 0.50 and 1.00$/m3, respectively. By international standards, for example, in China, these values are considered economically feasible. Detailed simulations of the RO system design, energy options, and power, water, and life-cycle costs are presented.

Suggested Citation

  • Gilau, Asmerom M. & Small, Mitchell J., 2008. "Designing cost-effective seawater reverse osmosis system under optimal energy options," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 617-630.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:33:y:2008:i:4:p:617-630
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2007.03.019
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jubran, Bassam A. & Al-Hinai, Hilal A. & Zurigat, Yousef H. & Al-Salti, Sami, 2003. "Feasibility of using various photovoltaic systems for window-type air-conditioning units under hot-arid climates," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 28(10), pages 1545-1553.
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    Cited by:

    1. Freire-Gormaly, M. & Bilton, A.M., 2019. "Design of photovoltaic powered reverse osmosis desalination systems considering membrane fouling caused by intermittent operation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 108-121.
    2. Daqing Zhou & Huixiang Chen & Yuan Zheng & Kan Kan & An Yu & Maxime Binama, 2019. "Development and Numerical Performance Analysis of a Pump Directly Driven by a Hydrokinetic Turbine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Stéphanie Aulong & Madjid Bouzit & Nathalie Dörfliger, 2009. "Cost–Effectiveness Analysis of Water Management Measures in Two River Basins of Jordan and Lebanon," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 23(4), pages 731-753, March.
    4. Bertsiou, M. & Feloni, E. & Karpouzos, D. & Baltas, E., 2018. "Water management and electricity output of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) in Fournoi Island in Aegean Sea," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 790-798.
    5. Skroufouta, S. & Baltas, E., 2021. "Investigation of hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) for covering energy and water needs on the Island of Karpathos in Aegean Sea," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 141-150.
    6. Erdinc, O. & Uzunoglu, M., 2012. "Optimum design of hybrid renewable energy systems: Overview of different approaches," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 1412-1425.

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