Case Study of Evaluation RO Desalination Systems for Potable Water in Safwan, Iraq

摘要

Iraq faces water scarcity due to a shortage of surface water resources. People in Safwan (Basrah, Iraq) and its environs use brackish groundwater as alternative resource. To improve water quality, small reverse osmosis (RO) plants have been established. The water selling price is (1.3 $/m3)* which does not cover the product cost which is (2.4 $/m3)*. Data were collected from eight plants, and a techno-economic assessment was conducted to explore the ideal cost. The known effective factored considered in this case, recovery ratio, temperature and total dissolved solids (TDS). From the other side, membrane replacement and energy cost were significantly effect, when their portions of the total production cost were 30.98%* and 48.38%* respectively as shown in Figure 10. In addition, software analysis was used to predict the scaling potential in raw water samples. Its results showed a high inorganic fouling (scaling) potential. Scaling has a permanent influence on operations and maintenance costs. These identified major cost influencers will be incorporated into the experimental design of the next phase of this ongoing research programme.