DESIGN OF AN ELECTRODIALYSIS BRACKISH WATER DESALINATION PLANT USING RENEWABLE RESOURCES BASED ON STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF CLIMATE CONDITIONS

Abstract

The interest in desalination methods has always been high and recently renewed due to the shortage of water in many remote areas and the diminishing natural fresh water resources. With almost 97% of the total water being seawater unfit for human use and of the rest 3% majority locked up in glaciers and ice, the remaining water available for human use is estimated to approximately to 1 % of the total. An important factor that determines the viability of any scheme providing fresh water suitable for human use is the cost. This requirement of minimal cost translates to optimised desalination processes to operate at minimum energy and initial capital investment. Minimising the costs should result in minimisation of the energy requirements in achieving the required result. Renewable energy sources are being exploited for the use in electrodialysis (ED) desalination processes especially for areas where power supply is limited or restricted and climate conditions vary.