Economic feasibility of the reverse osmosis process for seawater desalination

✍ Scribed by Gordon F. Leitner

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 403 KB
• Volume: 63
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0011-9164
• DOI: 10.1016/0011-9164(87)90046-4

✦ Synopsis

Most important in any economic analysis of a desalting process is a comparison frame of reference. This "frame of reference" provides the means for comparison with other processes. One of the most generally accepted cost references for desalination plants is that published by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (US). (co-authored by the writer). Unfortunately the most recent update is 1981. To provide meaningful current seawater desalting cost data for the middle east this paper updates the 1981 study as it relates to reverse osmosis, and introduces plant physical and cost data common to this geographic area. The cost of desalted seawater by RO appears to be lower than for MSF Distillation. Further, RO is competitive for large dual purpose plants, based on today's costs for energy. Escallating energy prices in the future will favor RO. If experience indicates longer membrane life than used in this study ( and there is evidence this may be the case) the RO cost advantagewillbe further strengthened.