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Techno-Economic Analysis towards Full-Scale Pressure Retarded Osmosis Plants

Author

Listed:
  • Elizabeth I. Obode

    (Chemical Engineering Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha P.O. Box 23874, Qatar)

  • Ahmed Badreldin

    (Chemical Engineering Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha P.O. Box 23874, Qatar)

  • Samer Adham

    (ConocoPhillips Global Water Sustainability Center, Qatar Science & Technology Park, Doha P.O. Box 24750, Qatar)

  • Marcelo Castier

    (Chemical Engineering Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha P.O. Box 23874, Qatar
    Facultad de Ciencias de la Ingeniería, Universidad Paraguayo Alemana, San Lorenzo 2540, Paraguay)

  • Ahmed Abdel-Wahab

    (Chemical Engineering Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha P.O. Box 23874, Qatar)

Abstract

Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is a power generation process that harnesses the salinity gradient between two water bodies of different salinities. Using high salinity water as a draw solution, this work assesses the techno-economic feasibility of the technology to generate electricity using single and multistage systems. This work utilizes a simulator built on the rigorous Q-Electrolattice equation of state and a mass transfer model that accounts for concentration polarization, combined with the Dakota optimization tool to perform sensitivity analysis and optimization studies. The economic indicator of interest is the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), which serves to compare PRO with other sources of renewable energy. An LCOE value of USD 0.1255/kWh was obtained from the use of commercial membranes at an efficiency of 100% for the mechanical components of the PRO system. This LCOE drops to USD 0.0704/kWh when an ideal membrane is used—thus showing the improvements to economics possible with improved membrane properties. With currently obtainable membrane properties and mechanical equipment, the LCOE of a single-stage process increases to USD 0.352/kWh, which is not cost-competitive with other renewable energy sources. Setting up multistage PRO systems towards minimizing the LCOE was found to be detrimental to the net power production by the plant.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth I. Obode & Ahmed Badreldin & Samer Adham & Marcelo Castier & Ahmed Abdel-Wahab, 2022. "Techno-Economic Analysis towards Full-Scale Pressure Retarded Osmosis Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-24, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2022:i:1:p:325-:d:1017505
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Matta, Saly M. & Selam, Muaz A. & Manzoor, Husnain & Adham, Samer & Shon, Ho Kyong & Castier, Marcelo & Abdel-Wahab, Ahmed, 2022. "Predicting the performance of spiral-wound membranes in pressure-retarded osmosis processes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 66-77.
    2. Tufa, Ramato Ashu & Pawlowski, Sylwin & Veerman, Joost & Bouzek, Karel & Fontananova, Enrica & di Profio, Gianluca & Velizarov, Svetlozar & Goulão Crespo, João & Nijmeijer, Kitty & Curcio, Efrem, 2018. "Progress and prospects in reverse electrodialysis for salinity gradient energy conversion and storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 290-331.
    3. Qais A. Khasawneh & Bourhan Tashtoush & Anas Nawafleh & Bayan Kan’an, 2018. "Techno-Economic Feasibility Study of a Hypersaline Pressure-Retarded Osmosis Power Plants: Dead Sea–Red Sea Conveyor," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-17, November.
    4. Manzoor, Husnain & Selam, Muaz A. & Abdur Rahman, Fahim Bin & Adham, Samer & Castier, Marcelo & Abdel-Wahab, Ahmed, 2020. "A tool for assessing the scalability of pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) membranes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 987-999.
    5. Steven Chu & Arun Majumdar, 2012. "Opportunities and challenges for a sustainable energy future," Nature, Nature, vol. 488(7411), pages 294-303, August.
    6. Sung Ho Chae & Young Mi Kim & Hosik Park & Jangwon Seo & Seung Ji Lim & Joon Ha Kim, 2019. "Modeling and Simulation Studies Analyzing the Pressure-Retarded Osmosis (PRO) and PRO-Hybridized Processes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-38, January.
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