Conceptual arrangement and basic design of drinking water reverse osmosis desalination plants

Abstract

To propose a conceptual arrangement of reverse osmosis desalination plants, four comprehensive decision algorithms and a software are developed. Typically, commercial software predict the performance of the reverse osmosis membranes based on their pre-determined configuration; however, the developed decision algorithms and the developed software in this study have the capability of introducing the conceptual arrangement of pretreatment units, reverse osmosis membranes, and energy recovery devices for both seawater and brackish water reverse osmosis plants. To perform a comprehensive study, alongside the developed software and the decision algorithms, both design considerations of the required equipment in pretreatment units and mathematical modeling of reverse osmosis membranes are included. Finally, to validate the accuracy of the developed decision algorithms and the software, four installed reverse osmosis desalination plants for producing drinking water from seawater and brackish water feeds are investigated. The algorithmic proposed plants for all four cases were in close agreement with the implemented industrial cases and World Health Organization standards.