Energy for desalination: A state-of-the-art review

Abstract

The utilization of seawater for drinking purposes is limited by the high specific energy consumption (SEC) (kW-h/m 3 ) of present desalination technologies; both thermal and membranebased. This is in turn exasperated by high water production costs, adding up to the water scarcity around the globe. Most technologies are already working near their thermodynamic limit, whilst posing challenges in further SEC reductions. Understanding the current energy status and energy breakdowns of leading desalination technologies will further help in realizing limitations and boundaries imposed while working for improved system performances. This paper comprehensively reviews the energy requirements and potential research areas for reduced SEC of various thermal, membrane-based and emerging desalination technologies. For thermal desalination processes, which consume a large chunk of energy for heating, renewable energy sources can be a viable option for bringing down the energy requirements. Hence, this review also focuses on the potential of desalination-renewable energy integrations. The review extends beyond conventional energy reduction possibilities to utilizing novel, advanced membranes and innovative techniques for energy offsets. The future of desalination for optimized energy requirements is projected to include ultra-high permeability membranes, fouling resistant membranes, hybrid systems, and renewable-energy driven desalination.

A Review of CFD Modelling and Performance Metrics for Osmotic Membrane Processes

“…Nonetheless, RO is an energy-intensive process and reduction of energy consumption remains one of the main research priorities to date [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Numerous studies have been conducted to attempt to reduce the energy consumption of RO processes, and they can be classified into: (1) developing ultra-high permeance membrane using advanced materials, e.g., graphene oxide (GO) membranes [ 26 , 27 ]; (2) using highly efficient energy recovery devices [ 28 ]; (3) using optimisation-based control systems [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]; and (4) optimising design of RO systems [ 32 , 33 ].…”

Commercial Thermal Technologies for Desalination of Water from Renewable Energies: A State of the Art Review

“…Conventional fossil fuel-powered desalination techniques consume substantial amounts of energy to produce fresh water and have a very damaging impact on the environment [7,18]. Table 5 shows the specific energy requirements to produce one cubic meter of fresh water from currently available technologies for commercial seawater desalination.…”

“…Although thermal desalination technologies require higher energy demands and have high maintenance costs compared to RO [152], both thermal and membrane-based processes are key to fresh water supply. Thus, reducing their energy demands through advances in research is equally important for both [7]. As a response, mathematical models and algorithms have emerged to allow simulating the costs of freshwater production with desalination systems, both thermal and membrane, coupled to diverse sources of renewable and non-renewable energy, allowing them to be compared with each other, to optimize decision-making in the selection [153].…”

“…In short, the use of renewable energy sources for desalination is essential and decisive if we want to provide an adequate supply of clean water that meets our future needs, reduces harmful impacts on the environment, and is sustainable over time [10]. Therefore, the future of desalination with optimized energy requirements is projected to include ultra-high permeability membranes, scale resistant membranes, hybrid systems, and renewable energy-driven desalination [7].…”

Comparative Analysis of Hybrid Desalination Technologies Powered by SMR

“…Liquid metal-cooled fast reactor,2 Pressurized water reactor,3 Floating nuclear power plant,4 Integral pressurized water reactor,5 Molten salt reactor,6 High-temperature gas-cooled reactor,7 Boiling water reactor.…”