Reverse Electrodialysis: Potential Reduction in Energy and Emissions of Desalination
Salinity gradient energy harvesting by reverse electrodialysis (RED) is a promising renewable source to decarbonize desalination. This work surveys the potential reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions gained from RED integration in 20 medium-to-large-sized seawater reverse osmosis (SWR...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-10-01
|
| Series: | Applied Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/20/7317 |
| _version_ | 1797550453991407616 |
|---|---|
| author | Carolina Tristán Marcos Fallanza Raquel Ibáñez Inmaculada Ortiz |
| author_facet | Carolina Tristán Marcos Fallanza Raquel Ibáñez Inmaculada Ortiz |
| author_sort | Carolina Tristán |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Salinity gradient energy harvesting by reverse electrodialysis (RED) is a promising renewable source to decarbonize desalination. This work surveys the potential reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions gained from RED integration in 20 medium-to-large-sized seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants spread worldwide. Using the validated RED system’s model from our research group, we quantified the grid mix share of the SWRO plant’s total energy demand and total emissions RED would abate (i) in its current state of development and (ii) if captured all salinity gradient exergy (SGE). Results indicate that more saline and warmer SWRO brines enhance RED’s net power density, yet source availability may restrain specific energy supply. If all SGE were harnessed, RED could supply ~40% of total desalination plants’ energy demand almost in all locations, yet energy conversion irreversibility and untapped SGE decline it to ~10%. RED integration in the most emission-intensive SWRO plants could relieve up to 1.95 kg CO<sub>2</sub>-eq m<sup>−3</sup>. Findings reveal that RED energy recovery from SWRO concentrate effluents could bring desalination sector sizeable energy and emissions savings provided future advancements bring RED technology closer to its thermodynamic limit. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:30:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-63d7564185494ab5ab34508dae4cb2db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:30:32Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-63d7564185494ab5ab34508dae4cb2db2023-11-20T17:42:38ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172020-10-011020731710.3390/app10207317Reverse Electrodialysis: Potential Reduction in Energy and Emissions of DesalinationCarolina Tristán0Marcos Fallanza1Raquel Ibáñez2Inmaculada Ortiz3Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Av. Los Castros 46, 39005 Santander, SpainDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Av. Los Castros 46, 39005 Santander, SpainDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Av. Los Castros 46, 39005 Santander, SpainDepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Cantabria, Av. Los Castros 46, 39005 Santander, SpainSalinity gradient energy harvesting by reverse electrodialysis (RED) is a promising renewable source to decarbonize desalination. This work surveys the potential reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions gained from RED integration in 20 medium-to-large-sized seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plants spread worldwide. Using the validated RED system’s model from our research group, we quantified the grid mix share of the SWRO plant’s total energy demand and total emissions RED would abate (i) in its current state of development and (ii) if captured all salinity gradient exergy (SGE). Results indicate that more saline and warmer SWRO brines enhance RED’s net power density, yet source availability may restrain specific energy supply. If all SGE were harnessed, RED could supply ~40% of total desalination plants’ energy demand almost in all locations, yet energy conversion irreversibility and untapped SGE decline it to ~10%. RED integration in the most emission-intensive SWRO plants could relieve up to 1.95 kg CO<sub>2</sub>-eq m<sup>−3</sup>. Findings reveal that RED energy recovery from SWRO concentrate effluents could bring desalination sector sizeable energy and emissions savings provided future advancements bring RED technology closer to its thermodynamic limit.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/20/7317salinity gradientrenewable energyelectro-membrane processglobal warming potentialwaste-to-wealthsustainability |
| spellingShingle | Carolina Tristán Marcos Fallanza Raquel Ibáñez Inmaculada Ortiz Reverse Electrodialysis: Potential Reduction in Energy and Emissions of Desalination Applied Sciences salinity gradient renewable energy electro-membrane process global warming potential waste-to-wealth sustainability |
| title | Reverse Electrodialysis: Potential Reduction in Energy and Emissions of Desalination |
| title_full | Reverse Electrodialysis: Potential Reduction in Energy and Emissions of Desalination |
| title_fullStr | Reverse Electrodialysis: Potential Reduction in Energy and Emissions of Desalination |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reverse Electrodialysis: Potential Reduction in Energy and Emissions of Desalination |
| title_short | Reverse Electrodialysis: Potential Reduction in Energy and Emissions of Desalination |
| title_sort | reverse electrodialysis potential reduction in energy and emissions of desalination |
| topic | salinity gradient renewable energy electro-membrane process global warming potential waste-to-wealth sustainability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/20/7317 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carolinatristan reverseelectrodialysispotentialreductioninenergyandemissionsofdesalination AT marcosfallanza reverseelectrodialysispotentialreductioninenergyandemissionsofdesalination AT raquelibanez reverseelectrodialysispotentialreductioninenergyandemissionsofdesalination AT inmaculadaortiz reverseelectrodialysispotentialreductioninenergyandemissionsofdesalination |