A computer program was developed to simulate and optimize the chemical pretreatment of seawater prior to desalination by reverse osmosis. The model was created using LabView® programming language. The automation of the process was achieved using a PID (proportional, integrative, derivative) controller. The effects of a variety of operating conditions were modeled to optimize the chemical pretreatment. We focused on three parameters: hardness removal, iron removal and control of biogrowth. The validity of the model was verified with laboratory scale experiments. In the range of the model, the predicted values differ by a maximum of 11% from experimental results.
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