For WETPaC, the most advanced technologies and the most energy efficient equipment have been selected.
Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a membrane process and the most widely used process for sea water desalination.
RO process involves the forced passage of water through a membrane against the natural osmotic pressure to accomplish separation of water and ions.
Reverse osmosis is among the finest levels of filtration available and the most advanced desalination technology in small-medium scale water capacities.
In practice, the saline feed water is pumped into a closed vessel where it is pressurized against the membrane.
The major energy required for desalting is for pressurizing the feed water.
RO membranes now offer the prospect of higher rejection of salts at significantly reduced operating pressures, and therefore, reduced costs. Brackish and seawater membranes of high performance are available in the world market.
RO is the less energy intensive technology with the use of energy recovery devices (ERD).
Optimum ERD are selected depending on the permeate water capacity of the RO to make the system cost effective and keep its carbon footprint low.
Typical RO units consists of the:
For the power supply system we select photovoltaic systems due to their reliability, low maintenance, long life, and low cost.
Last generation energy storage systems and support equipment such as inverters and charge controllers certify the proper operation of the Reverse Osmosis system under off grid circumstances.
The proper operation of the Hybrid RO unit guarantees an efficient plant and a sufficient, in quality and quantity, product.
Photovoltaics in combination with RO desalination systems is the more advanced combination of RES with desalination technology.