VARI-RO (Trade Name) 'Low Energy' Desalting for the San Diego Region. PreliminaryResearch Study. Final Technical Report

摘要

This Water Treatment Technology Program research study shows the feasibility toreduce the cost of desalting seawater by using the VARI-RO system, which is more efficient and environmentally attractive than ' Existing Methods'. The VARI-RO system is an integrated pumping and energy recovery method for seawater and brackish water reverse osmosis (SWRO) & (BWRO) desalting projects. The study validated that significant electric power reduction is achievable as compared to conventional centrifugal/turbine methods. As compared to these methods, a power reduction of 5.2 MW (a 30% savings) was projected; and as compared to the California State Water Project (SWP) a reduction of 4.2 MW (22% savings) was projected. These savings projections were based on a 30 MGD (113,550 cubic m/d) capacity SWRO facility. This means that desalting seawater can be less energy intensive than importing water from Northern California to the San Diego region via the SWP.