Hydraulic turbine energy recovery - R.O. System

In reverse osmosis desalination plants large flow rates of concentrated brine are discharged at high pressure from the membrane modules. Currently this pressure energy is wasted. This paper reviews the impact of soaring energy costs on the technical alternative of hydraulic turbine energy recovery. The capital costs, operating costs, and economics in electrical energy are evaluated for both sea-water and brackish water systems. Schemes of hydraulic turbine coupled with electric generator, tied to the electric power supply are considered for various plant sizes from 1 to 10 mgd. The analysis, in parametric form, presents the interrelationships between the cost of money, cost of electrical energy, and recovery factors for the different plant sizes and for sea-water and brackish water systems. The results will serve as a guide to determine when such a power recovery system should be seriously considered and evaluated in greater details for specific applications.