IPASJ International Journal of Information Technology (IIJIT)

A Publisher for Research Motivation ........

Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014

Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJIT/IIJIT.htm Email: editoriijit@ipasj.org ISSN 2321-5976

Optimization Study for Power density, net power production and membrane area Using Pressure Retarded Osmosis
Mudher Sabah1, Ahmed F. Atwan2, Hameed B. Mahood3,4and Adel Sharif 3,5
1,4 University of Misan university of Al-Mustansiriya, Baghdad, Iraq 3 University of Surrey, CORA Centre, Dept. of Chemical and Process Engineering, UK 5 The Qatar Foundation, Qatar Energy and Environment Research Institute 2

Abstract
The using of fossil fuels, as a source of energy, associates with emission of greenhouse gases. The reserves of this source will be shrinking with time, while the energy demand will be increased due to development of the world. These are some reasons for the urgent to search for alternative emission-free energy sources which is called renewable energy. The present work aims at computed, theoretically, the power generation, using pressure retarded osmosis pressure, with optimum values of system parameters, hydraulic pressure, draw and feed water, and membrane area. The result indicated that the power density increases with increase of each feed and draw water volumes, and decreases with rise of hydraulic pressure. Also, for specific volumes of water, there is a minimum value of membrane area versus a maximum value of power density.

Introduction
The mixing of two aqueous streams with different salinitiesreleases energy called salinity-gradient energy or osmotic powerthat is clean and renewable [1]. From the mixing of freshwater with seawater in the estuaries there is a release power in the order of 2000 TWhper year globally [2]. The successful utilization of this renewableand clean energy is evidently significant to address energy andenvironment related problems.Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is a feasible technology to harvestosmotic power from the mixing of salinity-gradient resource[3,4]. In a PRO process (see figure 1) water transports from a low osmotic pressurestream (i.e., feed solution) across a semipermeable membraneto a pressurized high osmotic pressure stream (i.e., draw solution), which produces a power equal to the product of hydraulic pressureand water permeation rate [3]. The osmotic power can besubsequently harvested (e.g., in the form of electricity by runningthe pressurized draw solution through a hydroturbine generator)[3,5].Comprehensive reviews of the PRO technology have beenmade in recent publications [6,7].This technology, pioneeredby Leob and co-workers [3,8,9],has received significant interestsin past years [1013].While early PRO studies using asymmetricreverse osmosis membranes observed extremely low powerdensity due to their thick support layers [14,15], recent developmentsin osmotic membranes and processes have shown promisingprogresses [10,11,13,1618].In late 2009, a Norwegian energycompany Statkraft built the worlds first PRO osmotic power plant[19] .According to Statkrafts projection, the PRO technology willbe profitable provided its power density (i.e., the power output perunit membrane area) can reach 5 W/m2 or above [20,21]. This paper describes the basis for analyzing the performance limiting effects of membranes in PRO.

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IPASJ International Journal of Information Technology (IIJIT)

A Publisher for Research Motivation ........

Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014

Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJIT/IIJIT.htm Email: editoriijit@ipasj.org ISSN 2321-5976

Fig. (1): Schematic diagram of open system PRO plant

Osmotic processes
Osmosis is the transport of water across a selectively permeable membrane from a solution of higher water chemical potential (lower osmotic pressure) to a solution of lower water chemicalpotential (higher osmotic pressure). It is driven by a difference insolutemolar concentrations across amembrane that allows passageof water, but rejects most solute molecules and ions. The osmotic pressure differential() is the pressure which, if applied as a hydraulic pressure (P) to the more concentrated solution, wouldprevent net transport of water across the membrane. FO uses theacross the membrane, rather than P (as in RO), as the drivingforce for transport ofwater through the membrane. The FO processresults in concentration of a feed stream and dilution of a highlyconcentrated stream (referred to as the draw solution). Flux in FOis in the opposite direction of RO. PRO can be viewed as an intermediateprocess between FO and RO, hydraulic pressure is appliedto the draw solution (similar to RO) but the net water flux is still inthe direction of the concentrated draw solution (similar to FO). The general equation describing water transport in FO, RO, and PRO is Jw = A( P).1 whereJwis thewater flux and A is thewater permeability coefficient of the membrane. For FO,P is zero; for RO,P>; and for PRO,P < . The flux directions of the permeating water in FO, PRO,and RO are illustrated in Fig. 2. Also in Fig. 2, the orientation of an asymmetric membrane is indicated; in FO, the dense layer of themembrane faces the feed solution and in RO and PRO, the denselayer faces the draw solution.In PRO, the power that can be generated per unit membrane area(i.e., the power density )is equal to the product of thewater flux andthe hydraulic pressure differential across the membrane: W = JwP = A( P) P .2 By differentiating Eq. (2) with respect to P, it can be shown thatW reaches a maximum when P=/2.Substituting this value for P in Eq. (2) yields : Wmax = A()2/4.(3)

Fig. 2.Representation of solvent flow in FO, PRO, and RO Membrane orientation is indicated in each system by the thick black line representing the membrane dense layer[22].

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Volume 2, Issue 1, January 2014

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Because the membranes used for osmotic processes are typicallyasymmetric (comprised of a thin dense layer on top of a porous support layer), concentration polarization occursexternally on the dense layer side and internally in the supportlayer side[23]. In PRO applications, the dense layer of the membranefaces the draw solution and the porous support layerfaces the feed solution.

Methods of generation power

PRO, RED and MFCs are distinct from the more common methods of electricity generation, which are based on harvesting non-renewable materials from nature. These newer processes offer the opportunity to generate energy from abundant but largely unused resources;however, they are at various stages of transfer from the laboratory bench topractical application. We review these three water-based processes and the challenges for their widespread application.

FO membrane
Flat sheet cellulose triacetate (CTA) FO membranes (Hydration Technologies, Albany, OR) were used in the FO experiments. These membranes are unique compared to other semipermeable membranes(e.g. RO membranes), and have been determined to be the best available membranes for current FO applications [24,25].

Result and discussion

According to osmotic principle there is mass of feed water will be permeated in to draw water through in optimum area of membrane .The amount of this mass depending on draw water pressure that applied by a hydraulic pressure ,feed and draw water volume and membrane area, the permitted water ber unit area corresponding to power density . For this amount of feed water (15m3) the power density was decreasewith increase hydraulic pressure as the demonstrating in (Fig 3) , this figure shown approximately linearly a relationship between power density and hydraulic pressure and for specific volume of hydraulic pressure the power density will be increased with increasing in draw water (15-35)m 3 .Same behavior will be found when the draw water volume the constant (15m3) and feed water volume (15-35)m3 as shown in(Fig 4). Figures(3 and 4)shows that each of feed and draw water volumes and hydraulic pressure for specific value of membrane area ,limit the permeated mass of water and thus a power density .The effect of meeting of these parameters of power density the effect of these power only power density is shown in Fig (5,6). It can be estimated from these figure that thereisa minimum value of these parameters corresponding to maximum value of power density and thus net power productionsas demonstrate in(Fig 7),this figure shows the variation net power production with membrane area with change of feed and draw volumes of water and of hydraulic pressure to gather.It can find ,from this figure, that the optimum maximum net power production (13.02)watt corresponding to optimum minimum value membrane area (4531)m2.

Conclusion
-Due to net power production the pressure retarded osmosis , this system should be planted nearly sinks the river sea meeting places ,for cost reduction of system requirements . -Pressure retarder osmosis system design the optimization of membrane area or net power production should be taking in the account.

power density W/M2

9 7 5 3 1 10 11

/hr3m 15 Vds= /hr3m 25 Vds=

/hr3m 20 Vds= /hr3m 30 Vds=

12 13 14 bar HYDRAULIC PRESSURE(H.P.X)

15

16

Fig (3): Power density versus applied hydraulic pressure with 15m3to volume feed solution

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Fig (4): Power density versus applied hydraulic pressure with 15m3to volume draw solution
15 14.57 14 13 12 11
p o w e r d e n s it y ( W /m 2 )

X: 2279 Y: 14.57

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 2279 10,000 membarene area(m2)

Fig (5): Power density versus membrane area

X: 5 Y: 14.57

14.57

p o w e r d e n s it y ( W /m 2 )

10

5
X: 17 Y: 3.684

3.684

0 4

10

12

14

16

17

18

hydraulic pressure (bar)

Fig.(6): Power density versus hydraulic pressure with all changes parameters

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20 19 18 17 16 15 14
N e t p o w e r p ro d u c tio n (W )
X: 4531 Y: 13.02

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13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1000 4531 10000 membarene area(m2) 100000 1000000

Fig (7): net power production versus membrane area

References
1.K. Nijmeijer, S. Metz, Chapter 5 salinity gradient energy, in: C.E. Isabel, I.S. Andrea (Eds.), Sustainability Science and Engineering, Elsevier, 2010, pp. 95139. 2. R.J. Aaberg, Osmotic power: a new and powerful renewable energy source Refocus 4 (2003) 4850. 3.S. Loeb, Production of energy from concentrated brines by pressure retarded osmosis. I. Preliminary technical and economic correlations, Journal of Membrane Science 1 (1976) 4963. 4.G.Z. Ramon, B.J. Feinberg, E.M.V. Hoek, Membrane-based production of salinity gradient power, Energy and Environmental Science 4 (2011) 44234434. 5. S. Loeb, Large-scale power production by pressure-retarded osmosis, using river water and sea water passing through spiral modules, Desalination 143 (2002) 115-122. 6. A. Achilli, A.E. Childress, Pressure retarded osmosis: from the vision of Sidney Loeb to the first prototype installation review, Desalination 261 (2010) 205211. 7. G.Z. Ramon, B.J. Feinberg, E.M.V. Hoek, Membrane-based production of salinitygradient power, Energy and Environmental Science 4 (2011) 44234434. 8. S. Loeb, Energy production at the Dead Sea by pressure-retarded osmosis: challengeor chimera? Desalination 120 (1998) 247262. 9. S. Loeb, One hundred and thirty benign and renewable megawatts from GreatSalt Lake? The possibilities of hydroelectric power by pressure-retarded osmosis,Desalination 141 (2001) 8591. 10. Y. Xu, X. Peng, C.Y. Tang, Q.S. Fu, S. Nie, Effect of draw solution concentration andoperating conditions on forward osmosis and pressure retarded osmosis performancein a spiral wound module, Journal of Membrane Science 348 (2010)298309. 11. S. Chou, R. Wang, L. Shi, Q. She, C.Y. Tang, A.G. Fane, Thin-flim composite hollowfiber membranes for pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) process with high powerdensity, Journal of Membrane Science 389 (2012) 2533. 12. R.L. McGinnis, J.R. McCutcheon, M. Elimelech, A novel ammoniacarbon dioxideosmotic heat engine for power generation, Journal of Membrane Science 305(2007) 1319. 13. A. Achilli, T.Y. Cath, A.E. Childress, Power generation with pressure retardedosmosis: an experimental and theoretical investigation, Journal of MembraneScience 343 (2009) 4252. 14. S. Loeb, F. Van Hessen, D. Shahaf, Production of energy from concentrated brinesby pressure retarded osmosis. II. Experimental results and projected energycosts, Journal of Membrane Science 1 (1976) 249269. 15. J. Wei, C. Qiu, C.Y. Tang, R. Wang, A.G. Fane, Synthesis and characterization offlat-sheet thin film composite forward osmosis membranes, Journal of MembraneScience 372 (2011) 292302. 16. T. Thorsen, T. Holt, The potential for power production from salinity gradientsby pressure retarded osmosis, Journal of Membrane Science 335 (2009)103110. 17. S. Chou, L. Shi, R. Wang, C.Y. Tang, C. Qiu, A.G. Fane, Characteristics and potentialapplications of a novel forward osmosis hollow fiber membrane, Desalination261 (2010) 365372.

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18. N.Y. Yip, A. Tiraferri, W.A. Phillip, J.D. Schiffman, M. Elimelech, High performancethin-film composite forward osmosis membrane, EnvironmentalScience & Technology 44 (2010) 38123818. 19. S. Patel, Norway inaugurates osmotic power plant, Power 154 (2010). 20. S.E. Skilhagen, J.E. Dugstad, R.J. Aaberg, Osmotic power power productionbased on the osmotic pressure difference between waters with varying saltgradients, Desalination 220 (2008) 476482. 21.K. Gerstandt, K.V. Peinemann, S.E. Skilhagen, T. Thorsen, T. Holt, Membraneprocesses in energy supply for an osmotic power plant, Desalination 224 2008(6470). 22.Achilli, A., Cath, T. Y. & Childress, A. E. Power generation with pressure retarded osmosis: an experimental and theoretical investigation. J. Memb. Sci. 343, 4252 (2009). 23.T.Y. Cath, A.E. Childress, M. Elimelech, Forward osmosis: principles, applications,and recent developments, Journal of Membrane Science 281 2006(7087). 24- J.R. McCutcheon, R.L. McGinnis, M. Elimelech, Desalination by ammoniacarbon dioxide forward osmosis: influence of draw and feed solution concentrations on process performance, J. Membr. Sci. 278 (2006)114123. 25-T.Y. Cath, A.E. Childress, M. Elimelech, Forward osmosis: principles,

Author
Mudhersabah received the B.S.degrees in physics science fromBasrah university During 1989-1993 , M.S. degrees in physics science(theoretical physics) from Al-Mustansiriya University . During 2002-2004, he stayed in university of Basrah college science-department of physics 2005,he now in university of misan .Tel.009647705500328.

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