Updated
9/13/07
Inland Desalination Operation and Disposal in Rural, Isolated
Communities
Develop and demonstrate a low-cost, energy efficient, simple and
reliable system for use in brackish water reclamation.
The
option for inland desalinization for the supply of fresh water is
becoming increasingly important in regions where there are not enough
natural water resources available. This issue is specifically
critical in arid and semi-arid areas where the natural water resources
are not sufficient to meet the population growth, economic development
and agricultural needs.
Conventional desalinization systems are: energy intensive, create
significant reject water, require high maintenance, and are not
optimized for various water chemistries. Additionally, due to high
costs associated with conventional fuels and electricity, there is a
need to design a lower-cost system which would be economical, reliable,
and may incorporate novel technologies and approaches.
One
of the major barriers to full utilization of desalination facilities is
the concentrates that are left as a reject. Sea water desalination
facilities have the option of returning reject water and concentrates to
the ocean. Inland facilities do not have that option since the
reject water and concentrates may contain elements, compounds, and
salts. Disposal of the reject water and concentrates may violate
federal and state regulations and is difficult and expensive.
Develop and demonstrate a low-cost, energy efficient, simple and
reliable system for use in brackish water reclamation. The proposed
solution could utilize existing commercially available and cross over
technologies but must be applicable for use at the inland Tularosa Basin
desalinization facility located in Alamogordo, NM. The system must
be able to produce fresh water for various sized communities throughout
the southwest. As a part of your proposed in-land brackish water
reclamation, the concentrate management solution may include
evaporation, deep-well injection, land application, other methods, or a
combination of methods. Use of
alternative energy sources as a part of an integrated system and
innovative waste disposal techniques are highly encouraged.
Your proposed solution should:
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Meet state and
federal regulations;
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Be reasonably easy to
use and reliable;
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Be applicable to
rural systems;
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Be affordable,
maintainable, and cost effective;
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Provide optimum
performance, viable yield, and minimum reject water;
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Be energy efficient;
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Address disposal of
concentrates/reject water and provide a viable disposal pathway; and
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Be adaptable to different size systems.
Each
team is advised to read the Participation Guide for a comprehensive
understanding of the contest evaluation criteria.
Upon your registration, WERC will
provide you with a copy of the Public Involvement Plan and Participation
Guide. Additionally,
your proposed design will be evaluated on issues identified in the
problem statement as well as others listed below.
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Ease of use;
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Affordability;
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Yield and viability;
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Reliability;
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Energy and water use efficiency;
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Cost effective operation;
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Disposal cost and handling;
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Long term performance and system management;
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Cost and quality of the water produced per liter;
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Functionality and operability throughout the year; and
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Concentrate, reject water management and waste generation.
During the contest, WERC will provide you with up to five gallons of a
sample consistent with typical brackish water containing various amounts
of particulates, salts, etc. The specific amount required for your
process to operate during the bench scale must be communicated to WERC
at least three weeks prior to the contest. Appropriate Material
Safety Data Sheets should be available during the bench scale
demonstration.
There are three water qualities at the
facility - 1500-2000 TDS, 3000-4000 TDS, and 5000-6000 TDS.
Blending of the water is possible and will yield something in between.
The process would be best if it could work well between around 2000 -
3000 TDS, values for many brackish waters. Working up to 5000 TDS
is also a good idea. The water is high in sulfates and carbonates, like
most inland waters. The water quality overview can be accessed via
the PDF:
Water
Quality Overview - General Chemistry (PDF)
The written report is the best means to demonstrate
your team’s insight into the problem. The report should discuss other
technologies considered but not pursued and why and to give the reader
full understanding of the magnitude of your team’s involvement with the
problem details. The report will be evaluated for clarity, logic
and coherence. Standards appropriate for publications in technical
journals apply.
In
addition to the listed requirements, the following must be discussed in
your report to WERC management:
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Describe process steps in detail including cost/benefit, evaluation
criteria, and screening protocol;
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Discuss advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of the selected
method;
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Include recent references and sources of information;
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Address any safety issues or considerations associated with the
process;
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Discuss the time-line for system construction until full operation;
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Present a sensitivity analysis regarding the selected process;
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Discuss total life-cycle costs and
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Waste generation, concentrate management, and handling.
Contact:
Barbara Valdez,
Program Facilitator
(575) 646-7821
(800) 523-5996
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