Client: Saltkraft ApS (Saltpower)
Value created
“I would say the real practical value of this work is proof of concept w.r.t. bringing cost down. Creating a commercial business with PRO is difficult due to the cost of membranes so bringing cost down is absolutely crucial.
This type of work demonstrates that with CFD and modelling, it is possible to predict the performance of membranes using different geometry modifications and to calculate the power output depending on the process conditions.
With this, we are confident that we can design the next plant that meets performance metrics at lowest possible capital cost while ensuring maximum efficiency of the expensive membrane components.”
– Atli Freyr Magnússon, Process Engineer
Competence keywords
Computational fluid dynamics, mass balances, chemical engineering, homogenisation, residence time distribution
Description
Saltpower and Resolvent co-developed a 3D model to describe the pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) operation mode of a membrane to be used in an energy recovery plant.
The membrane involved domains of different porosities and anisotropic permeabilities. Hence, microscale models were used to quantify these, which turned out to be very successful. Analysis of experimental stationery operating data and concentration tracer step-responses (residence time distribution) were used to calibrate and validate the model prior to geometry optimisation. Various geometries and operating points were simulated.