AUM Academic

Projects

Spring 2023
Summer 2023
Course Project Guidelines

Title: “Water Desalination Plant”

Dr. Ibrahim Mohamed
Dr. Nima Gharib
[Project Weight: 30%]

Spring -2023
Summer 2023
Contents
I. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 4
II. Learning Outcomes ............................................................................................... 4
III. Project Files........................................................................................................... 5
IV. Project Summary (Scenario) ................................................................................. 5
Useful link........................................................................................................................ 6
V. Deliverables & Project Management ..................................................................... 7
VI. Plagiarism.............................................................................................................. 8
VII. Marking Scheme ................................................................................................... 8
Appendix: Software ......................................................................................................... 9
 I. Introduction
Technological advances of the last decade have helped desalination to spread faster and
to become a reliable way for the supply of water and consequently for sustainable
development. Yet minimizing the cost of seawater desalination is recognized as one of
the most important technology challenges. With rising energy costs and water demands,
the energy consumed and subsequently the costs involved in any desalination plant play
an important role in any economic feasibility and optimization studies.

In the last decade, the total contracted desalination capacity has almost tripled. The
desalination technology with the greatest share is 60% for RO, 30% for MSF, and 10%
for MED. The average capacity per project has also dramatically increased.
Consequently, the energy needs of each project have become significantly larger creating
the necessity for larger and more reliable energy sources. Moreover, the increase in
energy costs and the uncertainty in fossil fuel prices have multiplied the expenditures of
constructing and operating a desalination plant.

The economics of desalination could improve through cogeneration: the use of dual-
purpose plants (i.e. for electricity generation and water production). Sustainability,
environmental considerations, and large-scale economic aspects have made nuclear
energy a promising energy source candidate for desalination. Currently, there is a
growing interest in the use of nuclear energy for various non-electrical applications such
as desalination, hydrogen production, and process heat applications. Among other drivers
for this interest are cheaper energy, less uncertainty on energy costs, the higher load
factor of the desalination plant, the better load factor of the nuclear unit, utilization of the
nuclear plant’s free land, and reduction of the desalination carbon footprint.

Group Size: 2-3 students

II. Learning Outcomes

• Thermodynamics Learning outcomes, refer to the syllabus for the details
 Specific Learning Outcomes:
• Ability to apply theoretical knowledge in a ‘real work’ project
• Ability to create mathematical models of real-life situations and apply reasonable
assumptions to come up with an acceptable solution.
• Ability to present findings in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to draw meaningful conclusions
III. Project Files
Files associated with the project are posted on Moodle

IV. Project Summary (Scenario)

Desalination systems fall into two main design categories, namely thermal and membrane
types. Thermal designs including multi-stage flash (MSF) and Multi-effect distillation
(MED), use flashing and evaporation to produce potable water while membrane designs
use the method of Reverse Osmosis (RO). With continuing improvements in membrane
performance, RO technology is increasingly gaining markets in seawater desalination and
hybrid configurations, combining RO with MED or RO with MSF has also been
considered.

Students should explain the different methods for desalination

• MSF
• MED
• RO
• Hybrid system

Also, an explanation of the different types of power plants is required

• Nuclear
• Solar
• Fossil
Then, the information on water demand and the power plant type used in Kuwait should
be investigated to find the following;

1- water capacity
2- power capacity
3- power plant efficiency
4- fuel consumption
5- sea water temperature
6- water salinity

Requirements:

Use the available free software [Deep 5, Appendix] to study the effect of using different
types of power plants on the water cost for the same desalination process, power, water,
and efficiency. Then, export the report that includes all output for each type of power plant
and make a cost comparison.

[You have to use the collected information for the Kuwait power plant]

Useful link
Software-Download

https://www.iaea.org/topics/non-electric-applications/nuclear-desalination

Water desalination

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpTUay98YcI&ab_channel=Waterpedia

World’s Largest Solar Powered Seawater Desalination Plant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6iyvrExzJk&ab_channel=EWT-WorldCompany

Can Sea Water Desalination Save The World?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfr82RB72U8&ab_channel=CNBC
V. Deliverables & Project Management
Deliverable Deadline Method of Delivery Grade
Allocated
The report includes an abstract,
introduction, and conclusion besides
the following,

Students should explain the different

methods for desalination

• MSF
• MED
• RO
D1 • Hybrid system W6
W5 Upload the report on 10%
5%
Moodle on the specified
Also, an explanation of the different Midnight
Day 1 link
types of power plants is required

• Nuclear
• Solar
• Fossil

The student names and sections

must be clear

Final report should include;

1- Cover page
2- Abstract
3- Chapter (1): Introduction
Should include problem Upload update report on
D2 statement as well as all Moodle on the specified 15%
10%
information mentioned in W7 link (Turnitin
section IV W10 submission)
4- Chapter (2): Deep- Software Midnight
Day 1
5- Chapter (3): Parametric study and a hard copy should
and results be submitted
6- Chapter (6): Conclusion

W7
Final Presentation includes types of the W11 PowerPoint presentation
desalination process, power plants, and Day 3 uploaded on Moodle and
important results presented in the class
D3 10%
(PPT to be uploaded on Moodle)

Total 30%
VI. Plagiarism
• Reference to the students’ handbook.

VII. Marking Scheme

Deliverable 100% 85% 75% 60% Comment
The well written The initial The initial The initial
initial report report includes report lacks report lacks
includes all all items but clarity and clarity and
D1 elements lacks clarity missing one missing two
mentioned in D1 element items
above

100% 85% 75% 60%

The report The report The updated The updated
includes includes report includes report includes
- Very good - Good - Good -one power
comparison of all comparison is comparison plant is
D2 (refer to conditions drawn but not but missing provided
the table in mentioned in D2 very detailed one type of
last page) power plant. - Very weak
- Well written - the report
report includes all satisfactorily - The poorly
the required written report written report
elements includes all the includes some
elements of the
elements
100% 85% 75% 60%
D3 excellent good acceptable Weak
presentation presentation presentation presentation
Appendix: Software
The Desalination Economic Evaluation Program (DEEP) is a spreadsheet tool originally
developed for the IAEA by General Atomics and later expanded in scope by the IAEA, in what
came to be known as the DEEP-2 version. These models have been thoroughly reviewed and
upgraded and a new version, DEEP-3.0, has been released. After years of updates and model
reviews, version DEEP -4 offered a major interface upgrade. The program allows designers and
decision-makers to compare performance and cost estimates of various desalination and power
configurations. Desalination options modeled include MSF, MED, RO, and hybrid systems while
power options include nuclear, fossil, and renewable sources. Both co-generations of electricity
and water as well as water-only plants can be modeled. The program also enables a side-by-side
comparison of a number of design alternatives, which helps identify the lowest-cost options for
water and power production at a specific location. Data needed include the desired configuration,
power, and water capacities as well as values for the various basic performance and cost data.

The DEEP software is usually used for the following:

• Calculation of the Levelized cost of electricity and desalted water as a function of

quantity, site-specific parameters, energy source, and desalination technology.
• Side-by-side comparison of a large number of design alternatives on a consistent basis
with common assumptions.
• Quick identification of the lowest cost options for providing specified quantities of
desalted water and/or power at a given location.

Software link
https://www.iaea.org/topics/non-electric-applications/nuclear-desalination