Cost optimization of low-salt-rejection reverse osmosis

Atia, Adam A.; Allen, Jeff; Young, Ethan; Knueven, Ben; Bartholomew, Timothy V.

doi:10.1016/j.desal.2023.116407

Cited by 23 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…While additional modeling details are included in SI Section S2, a brief description of these models is as follows: Chemical precipitation: This unit model includes the reactions and mass balances representing (1) chemical reagent dissolution in water, (2) precipitant formation, and (3) separation of the precipitant as a sludge waste with assumed water content. In this work, we include relationships for the amount of precipitant formed and the effect of chemical pretreatment on pH by developing surrogate models from OLI simulations, as described in Sections and 2.3. Pump: This unit model is a standard pump model, where the power consumption is a function of volumetric flow rate, pressure difference, and an assumed pump efficiency. RO: This unit model represents a one-dimensional RO stage that follows the formulation detailed in our previous work. ,, This RO model uses a continuum approach where a single stage with continuous length and width variables represents a system of discrete spiral wound RO modules. The model incorporates solution-diffusion theory to estimate water and salt flux based on the local hydraulic and osmotic pressure.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…RO: This unit model represents a one-dimensional RO stage that follows the formulation detailed in our previous work. ,, This RO model uses a continuum approach where a single stage with continuous length and width variables represents a system of discrete spiral wound RO modules. The model incorporates solution-diffusion theory to estimate water and salt flux based on the local hydraulic and osmotic pressure.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Equation-oriented (EO) programming is a powerful tool for the mathematical optimization of complex process systems such as emerging desalination technologies like osmotically assisted RO, membrane distillation, and low-salt-rejection RO. − However, none of these cost-optimization studies consider chemical phenomena for aqueous solutions, such as precipitation and mineral scaling. Software such as OLI Systems and PHREEQC enable accurate estimation of solution chemistry across a broad range of feed compositions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3.• Pump: This unit model is a standard pump model, where the power consumption is a function of volumetric flow rate, pressure difference, and an assumed pump efficiency.• RO: This unit model represents a one-dimensional RO stage that follows the formulation detailed in our previous work 56,59,60. This RO model uses a continuum approach where a single stage with continuous length and width variablesrepresents a system of discrete spiral wound RO modules.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modeling Framework for Cost Optimization of Process-Scale Desalination Systems with Mineral Scaling and Precipitation

Amusat,

Atia,

Dudchenko

et al. 2024

ACS EST Eng.

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Cost-optimization models are powerful tools for evaluating emerging water treatment processes. However, to date, optimization models do not incorporate detailed chemical reaction phenomena, limiting the assessment of pretreatment and mineral scaling. Moreover, novel approaches for highsalinity and high-recovery desalination are typically proposed without direct quantification of pretreatment needs or mineral scaling. This work addresses a critical gap in the literature by presenting a modeling framework that includes complex water chemistry predictions with process-scale optimization. We use this approach to conduct a technoeconomic assessment on a conceptual highrecovery treatment train that includes chemical pretreatment (i.e., soda ash softening and recarbonation) and membrane-based desalination (i.e., standard and high-pressure reverse osmosis). We demonstrate how to develop and integrate accurate multidimensional surrogate models for predicting precipitation, pH, and mineral scaling tendencies. Our findings show that cost-optimal results balance the costs of pretreatment with reverse osmosis system design. Optimizing across a range of water recoveries (i.e., 50−90%) reveals multiple costoptimal schemas that vary the chemical dosing in pretreatment and the design and operation of reverse osmosis. Our results reveal that pretreatment costs can be more than double the cost of the primary desalination process at high recoveries due to the extensive pretreatment required to control scaling. This work emphasizes the importance of and provides a framework for including chemistry and mineral scaling predictions in the evaluation of emerging technologies in high-recovery desalination.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modeling Framework for Cost Optimization of Process-Scale Desalination Systems with Mineral Scaling and Precipitation

Amusat,

Atia,

Dudchenko

et al. 2024

ACS EST Eng.

Self Cite

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“…flowrate, concentration, pressure, and temperature), and 3) cost models-relating capital and operating costs to the system design and operating variables. An application of WaterTAP in simulations and cost optimization of low-salt-rejection RO is presented by (Atia et al 2023). Recently, members of this team have expanded the functionality of WaterTAP to include renewable energy and storage models to enable analysis of integrated water treatment and renewable energy systems.…”

Section: Solar Desalination Tools Of Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of solar-enabled desalination and implications for zero-liquid-discharge applications

Fthenakis,

Xu,

Zhang

et al. 2024

Prog. Energy

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Production of fresh water from desalination of the abundant saline water on the planet is increasingly considered as a climate change adoption measure. Yet, there are challenges associated with the cost and environmental impact of desalination. Effective integration of solar energy generation and freshwater production can address both issues. This review article highlights recent key advances in such integration achieved in a joint-research university-national laboratory partnership under the auspices of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and parallel efforts world-wide.First, an overview of current and emerging desalination technologies and associated pretreatment and brine management technologies that together can result in zero-liquid-discharge (ZLD) systems is presented and their technological readiness levels are evaluated. Then advanced modeling techniques and new software platforms that enable optimization of solar-desalination applications with the dual objective of cost and environmental impact minimization are discussed. 

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Multi‐dimensional parametric study for enhancing Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis membrane performance suited for desalination of low salinity feeds

Thummar,

Amaliar,

Sutariya

et al. 2024

Water Environment Research

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Reverse osmosis (RO) effectively provides clean drinking water. Different RO membrane types are tailored to treat saline water feeds with varying characteristics. In the context of low brackish water feeds, the objective is to remove only a minimal excess of salinity through the membrane. Our study introduces a method of membrane post‐treatments capable of achieving controlled salt rejection while concurrently enhancing permeate flux, which is vital for achieving effective and energy‐efficient desalination of low brackish water. The post‐treatments were conducted on our in‐house‐developed membranes using aqueous solutions of N,N‐Dimethylformamide and glycerol for different drying times at the coupon level. The process was scaled up at the module level, allowing us to assess its potential for commercial application. At the coupon level, the permeate flux increased significantly from 3.7 ± 0.9 to 10.6 ± 0.2 L/m2·h·bar, while the salt rejection decreased from 95.6 ± 1% to 70.5 ± 1% when measured with a feed of 2,000 ppm NaCl concentration. At the module level, we observed a higher flux of 12.8 L/m2·h·bar, alongside a salt rejection of 55.5% with a similar feed. Varying post‐treatment parameters at the coupon level allowed us to attain the desired salt rejection and permeate flux values. Physical changes in both pristine and post‐treated membranes, including polymer swelling, were observed without chemical alterations, enhancing our understanding of the post‐treatment effect and its potential for broader commercial use.Practitioner Points Post‐treatment of RO membranes enhances flux. Physical structuring through polymer swelling was observed with the chemical structure unaltered. Post‐treatment of RO opens doors for broader energy‐efficient desalination application.

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Cost optimization of low-salt-rejection reverse osmosis

Cited by 23 publications

References 43 publications

Modeling Framework for Cost Optimization of Process-Scale Desalination Systems with Mineral Scaling and Precipitation

Modeling Framework for Cost Optimization of Process-Scale Desalination Systems with Mineral Scaling and Precipitation

Review of solar-enabled desalination and implications for zero-liquid-discharge applications

Multi‐dimensional parametric study for enhancing Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis membrane performance suited for desalination of low salinity feeds

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