Articles | IDE Technologies Ltd.

Sorek 150 Million m³/year Seawater Desalination Facility Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) Project

Author: Fredi Lokiec – EVP Special Projects – IDE Technologies Ltd. - Israel

Abstract
This paper presents the business structure and some of the many technological features of the Sorek Project, which consists of the financing, design, construction, operation and transfer of a seawater desalination facility with a guaranteed production capability of 150 Mm3/year for a term of circa 25 years. The Bid Price of US¢ 58.5/m3 (as of October 1st 2009) offered by Sorek Desalination Ltd. (SDL), the consortium led by IDE Technologies Ltd. developing and constructing the Sorek Plant, is one of the lowest prices ever offered in a BOT project for seawater desalination.

Several factors contribute to the low water price offered by the Consortium:
• Contractual Structure with proper risk allocation
• Adaptation of SWRO technology for large-scale plants (pressure centers concept)
• Introduction of large diameter (16") membrane elements
• Innovative design incorporating vertical arrangement of membrane pressure vessels
• Advanced Energy Recovery System (low energy consumption)
• Self-Generating Energy Supply System (low electricity cost)

Creative structuring of a mixed NIS (New Israeli Shekel) and Euro Financing Plan

Sun, 2011-09-04 - Fri, 2011-09-09

Recovery of Osmotic Power in SWRO Plants

Authors:
Boris Liberman Ph.D. CTO Vice President, IDE Technologies ltd.
Gal Greenberg Senior R&D Eng, IDE Technologies ltd.

Abstract

For the last two decades the attention of companies leading the desalination market has been focused mainly on energy saving. Almost half of the energy invested in the seawater desalination process is now recovered. The process of recovering gauge pressure from SWRO desalination plants started 20 years ago using the Pelton wheel has now reached 95-96% efficiency using DWEER and ERI work exchangers. In parallel, the brine of seawater RO plants contains “green fuel” in the form of high osmotic pressure that goes to waste in the brine discharge to the sea.

The theoretical possibility of recovering osmotic pressure as mechanical work power was developed by Prof. Sidney Loeb 35 years ago. This theoretical value is 1.55 kwh per cubic meter of desalinated seawater.

Sun, 2011-09-04 - Fri, 2011-09-09

Sliding Pressure Turbine Integrated with Seawater Desalination Facility (Multi-Effect Distillation - Med)

Author: Hagay Shemer - Process Engineer, Thermal Process Dept., IDE Technologies, Israel

Abstract

This paper presents the technological features of the MED desalination plant integrated with a sliding-pressure ultra-supercritical steam turbine plants of the Tianjin project, in which the MED desalination units operate with a wide range of steam pressures.

In general, clean and cost-effective power generation is of paramount importance to cope with the the increasing energy demand throughout the world. Investment and fuel costs are the main contributors to the cost of electricity Due to environmental awareness in recent years, the amount associated with CO2 emissions have attracted more and more attention. The efficiency of the power plant, as one key value, affects both the fuel costs and the amount of CO2 emitted to the environment. As coal is more abundant in many parts of the world, coal prices are less volatile and more stable than those of natural gas. However, larger CO2 emissions increase the need for more efficient coal-based power generation. Ultra-supercritical (USC) steam power plants meet the requirements for high efficiencies to reduce both fuel costs and emissions, as well as for a reliable supply of electric energy at low cost. Furthermore, recent developments in steam turbine technology and materials able to sustain high-temperatures allow for significant efficiency gains.

Tue, 2012-04-03

Utilizing Available "coldness" From Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Regasification Process For Seawater Desalination

Author: Tomer Efrat - Team Leader, Thermal Process Dept., IDE Technologies, Israel

Abstract

With the increasing use of natural gas, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is becoming more extensively used to ease the storage and transport of gas. The process of returning the natural gas to its gaseous state (regasification) prior to distribution to the gas pipeline absorbs large quantities of heat and therefore provides a readily available and inexpensive source of "coldness" at low temperatures.

This available "coldness" source can constitute a challenging opportunity to return to the technology of desalination by freezing, which was developed by IDE Technologies back in the 1960s, or to modify the commonly used multi-effect distillation (MED) process for operation at low temperatures. The vast experience accumulated by IDE over the last decades, in both MED and vacuum freezing vapor compression (VFVC) processes, will now serve as an effective tool for evaluating the feasibility of desalinating seawater by utilizing the "coldness" resulted from the LNG regasification process.

In this article a case study was considered, in which an LNG regasification plant can supply 1750 ton/hr of water-glycol solution at -15°C to be utilized for seawater desalination. The main challenge in this evaluation is being able to provide a desalination solution able to compete with the commonly used RO plants.

Sun, 2011-09-04 - Fri, 2011-09-09

Larnaca - Successfull BOOT Project Nears Completion

Introduction

The Larnaca Desalination Plant was the first large scale sea water reverse osmosis plant that was built by IDE Technologies Ltd and is solely owned and operated by IDE staff. It is currently in the final year of a 10 year BOOT project (Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer). The plant has a current maximum design capacity of 64,000 m³/day.

Plant construction started in early 2000 and was commissioned and online by July 2001. The Original contract was for a design capacity of 48,000 m³/day, but has been upgraded twice since signing the original contract to its current capacity of 64,000 m³/day.

The plant fulfills all its contractual obligations with regard to quantities of water produced, specific energy consumption and quality of water according to W.H.O. and E.U. standards.

Mon, 2010-10-04