Process simulation of modelled reverse osmosis for desalination of seawater

Abstract

Model equations for prediction of process parameters of reverse osmosis for desalination of seawater were developed via mathematical derivation from basic equations for the reverse osmosis process. A model equation relating the interfacial solute concentration () with the process pressure difference () was developed. Taking the of reverse osmosis as the basic independent variable, further model equations relating other process parameters such as the solute concentration polarity , water flux , osmotic pressure , water output rate (q), power density (Pd) and specific energy consumption (SEC) were developed. Simulation of hypothetical reverse osmosis data using Microsoft Excel Worksheet and Microsoft Windows 10 on a 64-bit operating system was carried out. Simulation results showed that the optimum fluid bulk concentration was = 0.0004 mole/cm3. The optimum rate of increase in the solute rejection factor per unit rise in ΔP was 0.45%. The optimum solute rejection factor was 97.6%. The optimum water output rate, specific energy consumption and power density were 103.2 L/h, 3.65 kWh/m3 and 6.09 W/m2, respectively. HIGHLIGHTS Mathematical model for simulation of reverse osmosis (RO) process was developed.; The RO process operated favourably at Co ≤ 0.0004 mole/cm3.; The simulated RO process operated optimally at of 3.7 atm.; The optimum water output rate was 103.2 L/h.; The optimum solute rejection factor was 97.6%.; The optimum specific energy consumption was 3.65 kWh/m3.;

Keywords

• desalination of seawater
• modeling
• process parameters
• reverse osmosis
• simulation