OSMOTIC POWER

GENERATION

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Power consumption has been increased enormously across the
world so the power generation should be increased. There are
many ways of power generation.
Some of them leads to environment pollution. So, non
conventional power plants must be encouraged.

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 HYDRO SOLAR

SOME TYPE OF NON CONVENTIONAL POWER PLANTS

GEOTHERMAL WIND

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All power plants shown above are effected by the climatic conditions.

Cannot be operated through out year

A new type of power plant which is non conventional and can be operated 24/7
is OSMOTIC POWER PLANT.

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What is osmotic power?

Osmotic power is generated by exploiting the pressure difference created

across the semi permeable membrane when two solutions of different
solute concentration are separated by the same.

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PRINCIPLE OF OSMOSIS:

Pressure retarded osmosis

Osmosis means passages of water from a region of high water concentration
(often freshwater) through a semi permeable membrane to a region of low water
concentration ( often Nacl).
The membrane only lets water molecules pass. Salt molecules, sand, slit and
other contaminants are prevented to do so. 6
 PLANT LOCATION OSMOTIC POWER PLANT
Osmotic power plant is build where there is abundant supply of fresh and salt
water
The river delta.
Almost all major cities in the world are located at the banks of river delta. Hence
unlike other renewable sources like Hydroelectric power, the osmotic plant will be
situated very near to the load centers.

River Fresh Water and Salt water mixing Osmotic Power Plant
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 OSMOTIC POWER PROTOTYPE

The Osmotic Power prototype

located at Norway
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 CONSTRUCTION

Fig: Commercial Setup for Osmotic Power Generation

 COMPONENTS
1. A SEMI PERMEABLE MEMBRANE CONTAINED IN MODULES.
2. FRESH WATER AND SEA WATER FILTERS THAT OPTIMIZE MEMBRANE
PERFORMANCE.
3. A TURBINE THAT GENERATES A DRIVING FORCE BASED ON OSMOTIC
PRESSURE
4. A PRESSURE EXCHANGER THAT PRESSURIZES SEA WATER FEED
REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN HIGH SALINITY LEVELS DOWNSTREAM FROM
MEMBRANE.
OPERATION

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 OPERATION
FRESH WATER AND SEA WATER SENT INTO TWO DIFFERENT
MODULES.

THE TWO MODULES ARE SEPARATED BY A SEMI-PERMEABLE

MEMBRANE.

THE FRESH WATER SEEPS THROUGH THE SEMI-PERMEABLE MEMBRANE TO

THE SALT WATER SIDE.

THIS INCREASES PRESSURE ON THE SALT WATER MODULE.

 OPERATION
THE SALT WATER FLOWS THROUGH THE
TURBINE WHICH IN TURN GENERATES
ELECTRICITY.

THE BRACKISH WATER IS SENT OUT TO

THE SEA.

THE HIGH PRESSURE SALT WATER IS

AGAIN SENT TO THE MODULES
Fig:Francis Turbine
THROUGH A PRESSURE EXCHANGER.
(Cortesy: www.Google.com)
 PLANT CAPACITY

By practical experience it is observed that in order to achieve 1MW of energy one

cubic meters of fresh water(per second) is mixed with two cubic meters of sea
water 12 bars. The initial pressure is provided by the pressure exchanger that
connects the outlet and the sea water inlet.

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 ADVANTAGES OF OSMOTIC POWER

It is renewable.
Theres no risk of running out of salt because of osmotic power produced.
There is no carbon dioxide or no greenhouse gases emission
It is very clean process.
It produces electricity reliably
High efficiency

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 DISADVANTAGES

Osmotic energy is high upfront costs.

The average salinity inside the basin decreases, also affecting the ecosystem.
Effects on marine life during construction phases.
Hard to find location.
It needs energy to generate

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 CONCLUSION

Osmotic power plants can be constructed anywhere freshwater flows out into
the sea, provided that the salt concentration is sufficiently high. Unlike solar power
and wind power, osmotic power plants are not affected by fluctuations in the
weather and will produce continuous and predictable electricity. Most river outlets
around the world represent a potential location for a plant, even though some rivers
need more cleaning of the water than others.

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