Search results for "salinity gradient power"
showing 6 items of 46 documents
Towards the first proof of the concept of a Reverse ElectroDialysis - Membrane Distillation Heat Engine
2019
Abstract The coupling of Reverse Electrodialysis with Membrane Distillation is a promising option for the conversion of waste heat into electricity. This study evaluates the performances of the integrated system under different operating conditions, employing validated model and correlations. This work provides a detailed description of the behaviour of a real RED-MD heat engine and indicates the set of inlet concentrations, velocities and equipment size which returns the highest cycle exergy efficiency. These operating conditions were selected for the pilot plant developed within the EU-funded project RED Heat to Power. For the first time, a perspective analysis was also included, consider…
Effect of different aqueous solutions of pure salts and salt mixtures in reverse electrodialysis systems for closed-loop applications
2018
Abstract Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) in a closed-loop arrangement is a viable way to convert low-grade heat into electric power. The present work experimentally investigates the use of pure salt- and equimolar two salts-water solutions as feeds in a lab-scale RED unit. RED performances were analysed in terms of Open Circuit Voltage (OCV), stack resistance and corrected power density. The pure salts and the mixtures employed were chosen via a computational analysis. Effect of feed solution velocity and concentration was investigated. Results concerning the pure salt-water experiments show that NH4Cl is the most performing salt in the concentration range probed, while higher power density v…
Performance analysis of the first Reverse Electrodialysis prototype plant operating with natural brackish water and salt pond brine
2014
Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) has gained a strong interest among the salinity gradient energy technologies during the last years. Recently, notable improvements have been reached in terms of membranes and stack performances using artificial solutions. However, the use of real saline solutions strongly affects the process performance, requiring additional R&D efforts for a successful scale-up of such technology. This work focuses on the experimental campaign performed on the first RED prototype plant fed with real brackish water and saltworks brine. The plant is located within the Ettore e Infersa saltworks in Marsala (TP, South of Italy). It is the final accomplishment of the REAPower proje…
Optimisation analysis of Reverse Electrodialysis systems for power production from concentrated brines
2016
Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) is rapidly growing as technology to produce electric energy by mixing saline solutions with different salinity. Recent developments have shown promising results on real site installations, demonstrating the feasibility of the RED process on the pilot scale. Therefore, further modelling efforts are now needed to optimise the technology, in order to enhance the performance. In this work, an optimisation study for the RED process is presented, taking into account saline waters and concentrated brine as feed streams. The model, which is developed within GAMS environment, predicts the optimal set of process variables that maximise the process yield, as well as the g…
NH4HCO3–water solutions regeneration in RED closed loop applications
2017
Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) in closed loop arrangement (Reverse Electrodialysis Heat Engine - REDHE) is a promising technology to convert low-grade waste heat into electricity. RED is a membrane process exploiting the salinity gradient between a concentrated and a diluted solution to generate electrical current. Due to the transfer phenomena occurring in the RED unit, the two exiting solutions are partially mixed. Thermal regeneration processes can be used to restore the initial conditions of the two solutions, thus closing the loop. In this regard, ammonium hydrogen carbonate (NH4HCO3) salt solutions are suitable for such applications, being able to decompose at temperatures above 40-45 …
REVERSE ELECTRODIALYSIS FOR POWER PRODUCTION FROM OILFIELD WASTEWATERS
2022
Produced waters (PWs) are wastewaters generated by crude-oil extraction processes. They can present very different characteristics depending on the field location and production process. Dispersed oil, dissolved organics and solid particles are usually the main components. Moreover, PWs can contain a very high quantity of dissolved salts 1, with a total dissolved solid (TDS) concentration up to 300 g/L. Each barrel of extracted oil requires the simultaneous extraction of 3 barrels of produced water2 on average. PWs are often discharged into the sea, or sent in evaporation ponds thus leading to a dramatic environment impact3. Reinjection in the extraction well is currently the most common an…