Voltage- and flow-controlled electrodialysis batch operation: Flexible and optimized brackish water desalination
He W, Le Henaff AC, Amrose S, Buonassisi T, Peters IM, Buonassisi AGW (2020)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2020
Journal
Article Number: 114837
DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2020.114837
Abstract
Electrodialysis (ED) desalination has been demonstrated to be more energy-efficient, provide higher-recovery, and be lower-cost for producing drinking water from saline groundwater compared to reverse osmosis. These benefits of ED could translate into cost-effective, renewable-powered desalination solutions. However, the challenge of using a variable power source (e.g. solar) with traditional steady-state ED operation requires batteries to reshape the power source to match the desalination load; these batteries often contribute to a large fraction of the produced water cost. In this study, we propose a time-variant voltage- and flow-controlled ED operation that can enable highly flexible desalination from variable power sources, including renewables, with negligible batteries, potentially leading to reduced water costs compared to what existing technology can provide. A model-based controller is presented which varies applied ED stack voltage and pumping flow rate to match power consumption to a variable source while maximizing desalination rate throughout an ED batch. The utility of the controller was demonstrated with a pilot-scale system tested with brackish groundwater, which operated as expected under varying fixed power levels and a real solar irradiance profile. The pilot system achieved a production rate up to 45% higher than that of an equivalently sized traditional steady-state ED system.
Involved external institutions
United States (USA) (US)How to cite
APA:
He, W., Le Henaff, A.-C., Amrose, S., Buonassisi, T., Peters, I.M., & Buonassisi, A.G.W. (2020). Voltage- and flow-controlled electrodialysis batch operation: Flexible and optimized brackish water desalination. Desalination. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2020.114837
MLA:
He, Wei, et al. "Voltage- and flow-controlled electrodialysis batch operation: Flexible and optimized brackish water desalination." Desalination (2020).
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