Seawater Desalination Plants

Seawater desalination is a process using which dissolved minerals including salts are removed from the seawater. Despite water is a superabundant natural resource on the planet, but still the available clean drinking water is just only 0.3 percent of the world's total amount of water. The source of natural fresh water is limited so sea water can play and is playing important role to meet the drinking water demand. However, the sea water before can be used must be treated (desalinated) which is not an easy task.

 

Seawater can be desalinated using various techniques and methods. Distillation is a primary technique used for desalination. However, the process is energy intensive. "One t" of drinking water is obtained by using 620 kWh of evaporation enthalpy. In reverse osmosis on the other hand the energy demand can be reduced to 7 kWh. Other method that can be used is electrodialysis (ion exchange). Lot of factors should be considered before choosing an appropriate technology.

 

Processes for Seawater Desalination

Desalination through Nuclear Energy
As per report around 2025 nearly 2025, 30 % of the world population will be lacking access to clean water. Hence, people and the government around the world will have to depend upon the alternative source of clean and safe drinking water including seawater. However seawater must be desalinated before it can be used. International atomic energy agency (IAEA) has developed technology based on nuclear energy for desalination of sea water. The use of nuclear energy reduces the cost of such energy-intensive process. An advanced small and medium nuclear energy plant can not only generate electricity but also generate potable water from seawater.

 

NPTDS (technical wing of IAEA) provide all technical support to the countries who are facing water crisis. Meanwhile the agency is providing technical support to projects in Karachi ( KANUPP ) Pakistan. Apart from Pakistan agency is providing help in various projects in Tunisia, Indonesia etc.

 

Desalination Capacity Worldwide
The chart below gives the clear picture of worldwide desalination capacity. As per chart MSF ( multistage flash) and Reverse Osmosis accounts for 85% of total installed desalination capacities. Though both thermal process (MSF,& MED) and membrane separation process are used worldwide but now trend is shifting towards membrane separation process.

 

Desalination Capacity by Country
Following are the top five countries where maximum desalination plant is located. It is clear that maximum plant is located in middle east as there is maximum crisis of water. The maximum desalination capacity is in Saudi Arabia followed by USA. Generally thermal process is followed in these regions however now due to advancement in membrane technologies they are too gaining popularity and their use is growing with a rapid pace.

Country	Total Capacity (m/day)	% of Global production	MSF	MEE	MVC	RO	ED
Saudi Arabia	5,253,200	25.9	67.7	0.3	1.2	31	1.9
United State	3,092,500	15.2	1.7	1.8	4.5	78	11.4
United Arab Emirates	2,164,500	10.7	10.7	0.4	3.0	6.5	0.2
Kuwait	1,538,400	7.6	7.6	0.7	0.0	3.4	0.3
Japan	745,300	3.6	3.7	2.0	0.0	86.4	6.8

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