Novel thermal desalination brine reject-sewage effluent salinity gradient for power generation and dilution of brine reject

Abstract

Salinity gradient resource presents an essential role for power generated in the process of pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO). Researchers proposed several designs for coupling the PRO process with the desalination plants, particularly reverse osmosis technology for low-cost desalination but there is no study available yet on the utilization of the concentrated brine reject from a thermal desalination plant. This study evaluates the feasibility of power generation in the PRO process using thermal plant brine reject-tertiary sewage effluent (TSE) salinity gradient resource. Power generation in the PRO process was determined for several commercially available FO membranes. Water flux in Oasys Forward Osmosis membrane was more than 31 L/m2h while the average water flux in the Oasys module was 17 L/m2h. The specific power generation was higher in the thin film composite (TFC) membranes compared to the cellulose triacetate (CTA) membranes. The specific power generation for the Oasys membrane was 0.194 kWh/m3, which is 41% of the maximum Gibbs energy of the brine reject-TSE salinity gradient. However, the Hydration Technology Innovation CTA membrane extracted only 0.133 kWh/m3 or 28% of Gibbs free energy of mixing for brine reject-TSE salinity gradient. The study reveals the potential of the brine reject-TSE salinity gradient resource for power generation and the dilution of brine reject.