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Scaling predictions in seawater reverse osmosis desalination

  • Hchaichi, Houda (Laboratory of Process Engineering and Industrial Systems, National Engineering School of Gabes, University of Gabes) ;
  • Siwar, Saanoun (Laboratory of Process Engineering and Industrial Systems, National Engineering School of Gabes, University of Gabes) ;
  • Elfil, Hamza (LabTEN-Water Research and Technologies Center) ;
  • Hannachi, Ahmed (Laboratory of Process Engineering and Industrial Systems, National Engineering School of Gabes, University of Gabes)
  • Received : 2014.05.22
  • Accepted : 2014.07.21
  • Published : 2014.07.25

Abstract

Simulations were conducted to predict supersaturation along Reverse Osmosis (RO) modules for seawater desalination. The modeling approach is based on the use of conservation principles and chemical equilibria equations along RO modules. Full Pitzer ion interactive forces model for concentrated solutions was implement to calculate activity coefficients. An average rejection rate for all ionic species was considered. Supersaturation has been used to assess scaling. Supersaturations with respect to all calcium carbonate forms and calcium sulfate were calculated up to 50% recovery rate in seawater RO desalination. The results for four different seawater qualities are shown. The predictions were in a good agreement with the experimental results.

Keywords

References

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