AWWA ACE61837

Inland desalination projects tapping brackish or saline groundwater face challenges and expense tomanage concentrate generated by desalination processes. This study presents an innovative approach toprovide beneficial reuse for desalination concentrate. A preliminary feasibility study is underway toevaluate a groundwater desalination project that uses concentrate as the water source for a landfillbioreactor renewable energy system. The approach co-locates a desalination water treatment facility witha landfill bioreactor gas-to-energy system in a cogeneration process that provides improved efficienciesfor both the desalination system and the landfill bioreactor. Desalination has high energy requirementsthat can be met by landfill bioreactor renewable energy production, and the landfill bioreactor requireswater addition that can be met by the desalination concentrate stream. The cogeneration project combinesthe two emerging technologies in a unique and complementary way to produce a variety of environmentaland economic benefits.The desalination/landfill bioreactor cogeneration system must balance multiple components of the projectto maximize desalination supplies and energy production capacity. Preliminary feasibility study resultsindicate: desalination production capacity of several million gallons per day may be expected whenbalancing concentrate addition with the solid waste-stream in mid- to large-size landfills; desalinationconcentrate and landfill leachate are similar in salt concentration so methane producing bacteria canthrive; and, landfill bioreactors have gained regulatory acceptance and are used increasingly togenerate renewable energy, improve waste disposal efficiency, and capitalize on financial incentives.Considerable interest exists among desalination professionals to identify beneficial concentrate reuseoptions. Reuse of concentrate as the water source for landfill bioreactor operation is a promisingapproach to provide dual benefits and lower costs for each component of the desalination/landfillbioreactor cogeneration system. Includes 28 references.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. - No.

Published:

06/17/2005

Number of Pages:

18

File Size:

1 file , 1.2 MB