Print Email Facebook Twitter Optimizing energy efficiency in brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) Title Optimizing energy efficiency in brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO): A comprehensive study on prioritizing critical operating parameters for specific energy consumption minimization Author Abkar, Leili (University of British Columbia) Aghili Mehrizi, Amirreza (Concordia University) Jafari, Morez (Oasen) Beck, Sara E. (University of British Columbia) Ghassemi, Abbas (University of California) van Loosdrecht, Mark C.M. (TU Delft BT/Environmental Biotechnology) Date 2024 Abstract Reverse osmosis (RO) systems offer a viable solution for treating brackish water (BW), a common but underutilized water resource. However, the energy-intensive nature of brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) systems poses affordability challenges to water supply, necessitating a focus on minimizing their energy consumption to support SDG6's goal of providing safe and affordable drinking water for all. This study addresses the critical need to minimize the specific energy consumption (SEC) of a typical BWRO system, defined as the energy consumed per unit of water recovered, mathematically and experimentally. Empirical models were developed proving there is a global minimum SEC while adjusting the operating conditions. Furthermore, we identified the key operating factors influencing SEC and their priority levels, along with their interactive effects. Notably, no prior study has discussed the significance and interaction of these operating factors (e.g., feed water salinity, temperature, pressure, flowrate and membrane permeability) on SEC of a BWRO system. Employing a full factorial experimental design with mixed levels of operating parameters, the study developed regression models that elucidate the mechanistic interaction between these parameters and system performance. Moreover, the models were validated experimentally, with a new dataset demonstrating their accuracy and reliability. ANOVA statistical analysis identified feed salinity, pressure, flow rate, feed flow rate×pressure, salinity×pressure, and temperature as influential operating parameters in reducing SEC, in descending order of importance. Operating within the determined optimum range resulted in a 36 % decrease in SEC and a more than fourfold increase in water recovery. The study's systematic approach and findings can be extrapolated to optimize the performance of other desalination technologies and diverse feed water types, contributing significantly to global water sustainability efforts. Subject Cost minimizationDrinking waterMembrane desalinationModelingOperational factorSDG6SustainabilityValidation To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:5f48b0aa-75d5-4f5f-aa82-78465e7635c2 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172772 ISSN 0048-9697 Source Science of the Total Environment, 932 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2024 Leili Abkar, Amirreza Aghili Mehrizi, Morez Jafari, Sara E. Beck, Abbas Ghassemi, Mark C.M. van Loosdrecht Files PDF 1-s2.0-S004896972402919X-main.pdf 6.24 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:5f48b0aa-75d5-4f5f-aa82-78465e7635c2/datastream/OBJ/view