ENERCON’S Energy Recovery System
ENERCON’s seawater and brackish water desalination systems are based on the principle of reverse osmosis (RO). In this process pressurised seawater flows over a membrane. The structure of the membrane retains the dissolved salts – water is able to permeate. The result is pure drinking water. After passing the membrane, a three-piston system recycles the energy of the remaining seawater pressure with virtually no loss. Thus desalination and energy recovery occur in a continuous complementary process, forming a cycle.
Basic Functionality of ENERCON’S Seawater Desalination Plant
The feedwater flows through filters and an UV-disinfection system to the ENERCON Energy Recovery System. The pump pressure of 20bar is transferred to ~ 56bar/seawater or ~28bar/brackish water and flows to the RO-membranes. At the RO-membranes, feedwater separates into drinking water and remaining water. Drinking water leaves the system and remaining water, still under pressure, flows back to the energy recovery system to support the process.
Flexibility in power supply
ENERCON plants have no fixed operating point. The water production can range between max. 12.5% and 100% of the nominal capacity by adjusting the piston speed according to demand. This has two main advantages: Firstly, operation is possible with a fluctuating energy supply, and secondly,output can be adjusted flexibly to water demand without shutting down the plant.
Only about 25% of the energy in the reverse osmosis process is used to produce drinking water, so without a recovery method, about 75% would go to waste. ENERCON’s energy recovery system comprises a low-pressure pump (max. 20 bar) and a three-piston system, which raises the pressure up to 70 bar and simultaneously re-uses the remaining energy. There is no need for a second (high-pressure) pump. So this system consumes very little power and works extremely energy efficient. | |
Modular Container Design
ENERCON’s seawater desalination plant is modular, comprising various containers. Each 20-foot container contains a separate part of the plant. This design enables easy worldwide transport and set-up logistics and also guarantees optimal protection of the plant from climatic influences.
Characteristics of ENERCON’S Seawater Desalination System
 | Very low energy consumption: The ENERCON recovery system saves 30% energy
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 | No need for chemicals: Physical control processes eliminate the need for chemicals
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 | Energy-efficient output adjustment: Without reducing efficiency, water production can be
adjusted to demand and energy availability within a range of 12.5% to 100%
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 | Based on the power and output variability, ENERCON seawater desalination plants can also
be applied in weak power grid areas or as stand-alone systems
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 | Fully automatic operation, including re-start after a power failure, cleansing cycles, control
depending on energy and feedwater availability
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 | Low operating costs; due to very low power consumption per m3 of drinking water produced
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 | Low noise emission
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 | Remote plant monitoring with ENERCON’s SCADA system: Monitoring regardless of location
enables online viewing of all operating data. The data can be generated in tabulated or
graphic form, statistical assessments can be calculated, etc.
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 | No 24 hour personnel necessary
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 | Combination with renewable energy systems, such as wind turbines |
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