• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.44 no.10
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• pp.809-817
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• 2011

We analyzed various cost components for approximately 40 small-scale island desalination plants operated by K-water. A significant factor affecting desalination cost was found, and we proposed a way to reduce desalination costs. All plants considered were reverse osmosis (RO) facilities. TDS concentrations of feed water varied from less than 1,000 mg/L (practically considered freshwater) to over 30,000 mg/L (nearly seawater). Analysis of desalination costs from 2005 to 2009 indicated that maintenance, labor, and energy were the three biggest components that accounted for 50.6%, 36.9% and 7.8%, respectively. It was well known that TDS of feed water directly affected energy needed for RO process. In this study we found that maintenance cost was also directly related to feed water TDS. This finding indicated that lowering feed water TDS might result in significant desalination cost reduction.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.119-119
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• 2015

스마트워터그리드의 목적은 기존 용수부족 문제의 근본적인 해결을 위해 새로운 취수원을 개발하고, 지역 내의 수자원을 효율적으로 활용하는 방안을 강구하는 시스템을 구축하는데 있다. 따라서 운영비용을 최소화하면서 수요처에 적정한 수량과 수질의 용수를 공급할 수 있도록 해야한다. 스마트워터그리드 구축 시 설비 비용에 대한 부담으로 보급 확산에 어려움을 겪을 가능성이 높으므로, 비용 효과적(Cost-effective)인 측면에서 스마트워터그리드의 경제성을 검토할 필요성이 있다. 본 연구에서는 자료의 한계로 인해 기존의 다중수원에 대한 경제성분석 사례를 인용하여 상수도 생산원가 절감액, 댐 건설과 관련된 비용의 감소, 물 오염 감소 등으로 편익을 간접적으로 계산하고, 기술적으로 물량이 충분하다는 가정하에 다중수원들간의 비용효과분석 수행하였다. 분석결과, 현재 공급하고 있는 상수도 시스템이 다른 다중취수원에 비해 비용효과적 우위에 있는 것으로 나타났다. 지하수, 해수담수화 등 새로운 수원을 찾는 노력이 필요하며 지하수는 가장 쉽게 활용할 수 있는 대체 수원이지만, 관정개발에 많은 비용이 들고 대량으로 수원을 공급하기 어렵다는 단점이 있다. 해수담수화는 대체수자원으로서 중요성이 더욱 강조될 것으로 보이지만, 시설의 설치 및 운영에 드는 높은 비용과 함께 육지에서 물을 대량으로 연안에서 멀리 떨어져 있거나 고도가 높은 지역은 해수담수화 기술의 적용이 어려울 것으로 여겨진다.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.431-438
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• 2016

Large energy consumption is one of the main weaknesses of RO desalination. A new method is proposed to reduce the energy consumption of RO desalination which depends on the salinity of the feedwater. Low salinity feedwater can be obtained using groundwater wells which extracts both fresh groundwater and subsurface sea water. Subsurface feedwater is advantageous in overcoming other problems associated with surface seawater intakes. Salinities of groundwater depend on a number of factors. In this work a new simulation-optimization model is proposed to identify well locations and pumping rates with would provide the required design flow rate with the minimum salinity. When groundwater is developed in a coastal area, the saltwater wedge advances inland and may contaminate existing groundwater wells, which must be prevented. The model can protect existing wells while developing minimum salinity feedwater. Examples are provided to demonstrate the usage of the model.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.182-191
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• 2002

Polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membrane with thin film composite structure was commercialized for seawater desalination process. Recently, it has been reported that some RO processes for high pressure and recovery leads to reducing in energy cost and pretreatment scale compared with earlier process. The development of energy recovery, pumping device and RO elements with high pressure and rejection made high pressure and recovery process possible. In this study, permeation properties of commercialized seawater RO membrane were investigated under the condition of high pressure and recovery. In the RO sheet membrane test 3.5% NaCl of synthetic seawater was used. The synthetic seawater contained only sodium chloride. In the RO module test, natural seawater was used at Happo Bay, Masan city. As the results, RO membrane with high durability of pressure was better than that with high rejection of seawater for high pressure and recovery process. Seawater rejection of high concentrate tends to be improved by high pressure operation.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.314-322
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• 2019

A worsened drought in Chungnam province of Korea due to climate change and increasing water demand at Daesan industrial complex have motivated the 100,000 ㎥/d seawater desalination project. In this study, therefore, the comprehensive analysis of parameters affecting the reverse osmosis (RO) performance was conducted. Under the various conditions of feedwater salinity and temperature in Daesan, energy consumption was calculated as 2.39 ± 0.13 kWh/㎥. The decrease in membrane flux and recovery rate positively impacted annual operation cost. The average total dissolved solids (TDS) of the permeate and energy consumption with highly permeable membrane according to the membrane manufacturer were 3.84 mg/L and 2.22 ± 0.13 kWh/㎥, respectively. In addition, energy saving up to 0.29 kWh/㎥ or cost reduction of membrane module up to 15.6% is expected by changing the RO configuration from full two pass to partial or split partial two pass.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.64-69
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• 2011

A novel concept of the gridable desalination plant is to provide an operation management to enable an electricity plant operation cost reduction. Adjusting recovery rate responded to electricity price, an electricity plant operation cost can be saved. To show a suggested approach, the data of 10 [MIGD](Million Imperial Gallons per Day) SWRO testbed are used. The result shows that total cost reduction rate is calculated about 1.6[%] of annual total electric plant operation cost.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.190-199
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• 2020

The utilization of multiple water sources becomes important due to the master plan for development of water supply released by Ministry of Environment, Korea in 2018. In this study, therefore, the analysis of comprehensive effect in blending applicable water sources in Daesan where 100,000 ㎥/d seawater desalination plant will be constructed for industrial use was performed. The increase in mixing ratio of other water sources with seawater reduced salinity up to 50%, but negatively impacted the turbid and organic matter. Lab-scale reverse osmosis performance test also found that membrane fouling was exacerbated in blended water condition. The simulation results of reverse osmosis indicated 39% energy saving on average is expected at the one-to-one blending ratio, however, long-term performance test at the pilot-scale plant is highly required to evaluate the inclusive impact of mixing seawater and other water sources.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.87-95
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• 2024

Recent studies explore a wide array of desalination and water treatment methods, encompassing membrane processes such as reverse osmosis (RO), nanofiltration (NF), and electrodialysis (ED) to advanced capacitive deionization (CDI) and its membrane variant (MCDI). Comparative analyses reveal ED's cost-effectiveness in low-salinity scenarios, while hybrid systems (NF-MCDI, RO-NF-MCDI) show improved salt removal and energy efficiency. Novel ion separation methods (NF-CDI, NF-FCDI) offer enhanced efficacy and energy savings. These studies also highlight the efficiency of these methods in treating complex wastewater specific to various industries. Environmental impact assessments emphasize the need for sustainability in system selection. Additionally, the integration of microfabricated sensors into membranes allows real-time monitoring, advancing technology development. These studies underscore the variety and promise of emerging desalination and water treatment technologies. They provide valuable insights for enhancing efficiency, minimizing energy usage, tackling industry-specific issues, and innovating to surpass conventional method limitations. The future of sustainable water treatment appears bright, with continual advancements focused on improving efficiency, minimizing environmental impact, and ensuring adaptability across diverse applications.