Higher Colleges of Technology

Faculty of Engineering Technology and Science

MCE 4453 Desalination Engineering

CLO5 – Renewable energy technologies used in desalination

Sub-outlines

1. Describe Solar Energy for desalination

2. Describe Wind Energy for desalination

3. Describe Geothermal Energy for desalination

4. Describe Wave Energy for desalination

5. Describe Nuclear Energy for desalination

6. Discuss Seawater greenhouse.

• Solar humidification-dehumidification.

• Multiple- effect humidification.

• Seawater greenhouse.

References:

• [Ref 1] A Multidisciplinary Introduction to Desalination By Alireza Bazargan

(Editor), 2018 River Publishers, ISBN: 978-87-93379-53-4 (Ebook).

• [Ref 2] Seawater Desalination - Conventional and Renewable Energy Processes.

Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2009.

• [Ref 3] Desalination – Water from Water, Wiley 2014, Ch 13. 4]

Course Material MCE 4453 Dr. Mongi Mansouri Page | 1

 Higher Colleges of Technology
Faculty of Engineering Technology and Science
MCE 4453 Desalination Engineering

3. Describe Wind Energy for desalination

• Wind turbines operate on a simple principle. The energy in the wind turns two or

three propeller-like blades around a rotor. The rotor is connected to the main shaft,

which spins a generator to create electricity.

• Wind energy is the fastest growing source of electricity in the world. Wind-power

technology is mature and increasingly competitive with conventional energy sources

and considered one of the most promising renewable energy sources.

• Wind-power is well suited for desalination since the freshwater output can be easily

stored. That is, it is possible to produce drinking water when the power supply is

available and store it for when it is not, allowing the system to be adapted to the

intermittent nature of the wind. This alleviates the need for expensive back-up

systems.

• Wind power, while in operation, has a low impact on the environment.

• Wind power is more suitable for RO (See Figure 7) and mechanical vapor compression

(See Figure 8) among all the desalination processes.

• The MVC process is more tolerant of intermittent operation than RO but it is not

traditionally used with a variable power supply. Some cases are cited below…

• The RO system is a better choice if there is a weak grid connection. It can produce

water at slightly lower costs, mainly due to the lower specific energy consumption.

• For stand-alone applications in remote locations, the MVC is a suitable process for

desalination due to its variability in operation. Note also that MVC produces a much

purer product.

• As the economics of the wind-powered desalination process are strongly site-

dependent, a thorough analysis of local conditions is indispensable.

• In general, it has been established that wind-powered desalination can be

competitive with other desalination systems while providing safe and clean drinking

Course Material MCE 4453 Dr. Mongi Mansouri Page | 20

 Higher Colleges of Technology
Faculty of Engineering Technology and Science
MCE 4453 Desalination Engineering

water efficiently in an environmentally responsible manner offering a sustainable

solution to growing freshwater needs.

Figure 7. Wind powered RO desalination system (Ref. 1).

Figure 8. Wind-powered MVC desalination system. (Ref. 1).

Course Material MCE 4453 Dr. Mongi Mansouri Page | 21

 Higher Colleges of Technology
Faculty of Engineering Technology and Science
MCE 4453 Desalination Engineering

• Wind-powered RO systems can be operated in different configurations:

o With an alternative electrical supply (weak grid or diesel generator); matching

the available wind energy to the load; and the operational characteristic of RO

membranes such as operating at constant conditions and/or with storage

devices.

o Suitable combinations of other renewable energy sources can be employed to

provide smooth operating conditions. For example, a combination of wind power

and PV cells can drive the desalination process round-the-clock with a battery

bank system.

• Combining these two renewable energy sources with desalination may have several

inherent advantages. However, maintenance of the battery bank system can be a

major concern.

• Another important fact to be noted is: that freshwater can be stored in vast

quantities for extended periods of time. Therefore, it is possible to produce water

and store it when the power supply is available, for use when the power supply drops.

This alleviates the need for expensive back-up systems.

Some Cited Cases around the world

• Two autonomous wind-driven MVC desalination plants have been built to operate with

variable power. In both plants a variable-speed compressor and a resistive heating

element in the brine tank allow a variable amount of power to be absorbed by the

unit.

o The plant on Borkum Island uses a 60 kW wind turbine, an MVC unit with a 4–

36 kW compressor and a 0–15 kW resistive heater. It produces distillate at

0.3–2 m3/h with a specific consumption of 16–20 kWh/m3.

o Another wind powered MVC desalination plant was demonstrated on the Island

of Rugen, in the Baltic Sea with a capacity of 360 m3/day. The wind energy

Course Material MCE 4453 Dr. Mongi Mansouri Page | 22

 Higher Colleges of Technology
Faculty of Engineering Technology and Science
MCE 4453 Desalination Engineering

production capacity for this application was 300 kW. The distillate production

varied between 2 and 15 m3/h depending on the wind speed conditions.

• Advantages of this system were: low-energy demand due to efficient heat recovery;

variable rotor speed for higher energy gains; complete utilization of wind power for

desalination; low process temperatures; and only wind energy used for operation.

• The economics of a wind-powered desalination system differ from conventional plant

economics since it is almost entirely based on the fixed costs of the system.

o There are no fuel costs for the system since the wind turbine, being largely a

capital expenditure, replaces fuel costs.

o Therefore, energy efficiency is not the main determining factor, but rather

the economics of the process.

Wind-powered desalination project targets https://youtu.be/vTcoy9zPX9c

world market

Wind Powered Desalination of Brackish https://youtu.be/rqjKger0lQI

Groundwater

Course Material MCE 4453 Dr. Mongi Mansouri Page | 23