Seawater desalination represents an everlasting challenge for engineers. The demand for fresh water is growing while its market prices are going down. Meeting the clients’ need for lower water costs requires investing in R&D to develop new technologies and smarter solutions.
Innovation and technology are part of SIDEM’s DNA and that is why we are now paving the way to:
The next generation of RO desalination plants.
What should be expected of the next generation of desalination plants?
- Quality: Production of the same quality of fresh water than today, but at a lower cost.
- Safety: High-pressure systems such as SWRO desalination plants must always be safe.
- Compact: It is generally less expensive to install desalination plants along the seashore where space is often limited. A compact plant also translates to lower CAPEX.
- Digital: Information is key and desalination plants must be connected to the best knowledge and expertise: diagnosis, operation recommendations, maintenance strategies and scheduling, etc.
The Barrel: safe, compact & digital
SIDEM’s answer to these high expectations is The Barrel
Our engineers have come up with an integrated solution: a multi RO element vessel which allows the RO process implementation to be strictly identical to what we currently have within RO pressure vessels.
The Barrel has a “Plug & Play” approach. The carbon steel pressure vessel is manufactured and tested off-site before being delivered as a single element of the plant. Its installation on site is inspired by large evaporators of thermal desalination plants and secures a fast-track schedule for the whole project.
With its limited number of high-pressure connections, the Barrel is safe. Seawater leakage sources found on the multiple high-pressure connections of traditional RO skids are drastically reduced. Corrosion is therefore less likely to appear on the piping. Maintenance costs of the installation are reduced and the lifetime of the plant is extended.
Being installed outdoor, the Barrel is compact. The fact that no building is required to house the desalination process allows footprint reduction of the RO area up to 25% compared to traditional technology. Besides, the operating temperature of the RO membranes is constantly monitored to ensure that the recommendations of membrane suppliers are met.
Finally, the Barrel is digital. Equipped with a system that enables the remote monitoring of the membranes, it meets the operator’s expectations in terms of reliability and continuous OPEX optimization.