Closed-loop pressure retarded osmosis draw solutions and their regeneration processes: A review

Zadeh, Ali Etemad; Touati, Khaled; Mulligan, Catherine N.; McCutcheon, Jeffrey R.; Rahaman, Md. Saifur

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2022.112191

Closed-loop pressure retarded osmosis draw solutions and their regeneration processes: A review

Journal Article · Wed Feb 09 00:00:00 EST 2022 · Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112191· OSTI ID:1977618

Zadeh, Ali Etemad ^[1]; Touati, Khaled ^[2]; ^[2]; McCutcheon, Jeffrey R. ^[3]; Rahaman, Md. Saifur ^[4]

Concordia University, Montreal, QC (Canada); OSTI
Concordia University, Montreal, QC (Canada)
Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (United States)
Polytechnique Montreal, QC (Canada)

Pressure-Retarded Osmosis (PRO) is an osmotic process that has been used to harvest energy from salinity gradients using a semi permeable membrane. A comparison between open-loop PRO (OLPRO) and closed-loop PRO (CLPRO) was made regarding their performance and costs. In CLPRO, where the diluted draw solution is re-concentrated in the regeneration system to be reutilized in the process, has recently received an intensive focus as the most viable configuration for a standalone power plant. The choice of the PRO draw solution in CLPRO is crucial to garner a high osmotic pressure as the key for the feasibility of the process. Here, in this review, the draw solutions are critically evaluated in the literature in terms of energy output as well as the method of regeneration used to recirculate them. A set of practical criteria has been suggested to appraise the adequacy of the solution for CLPRO application. It was concluded that NH₃ – CO₂ theoretically can produce 170 W/m² of power density. Inorganic draw solutes such as NaCl can generate high power density up to 87 W/m². Organic draw solutes with their remarkably low reverse salt flux (RSF) have promising potential for future application in PRO. Similarly, the regeneration systems of the diluted draw solutions have also been reviewed and discussed. How the energy consumption of the regeneration process affects the feasibility of CLPRO is explained. For the specific case of osmotic heat engines (OHEs), when the energy of the regeneration process is supplied by heat waste, the range of applicability of the heat waste in CLPRO in terms of efficiency is defined and compared to Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). The results showed that CLPRO has better efficiency than ORC for temperatures T < 80 °C, which makes it a promising process or low-grade heat energy recovery. In addition, a PRO-RO hybrid system coupled with solar power can reduce the net specific energy consumption (SEC) to 0.39 kWh/m³. The conditions that regeneration processes should operate under to make PRO viable are discussed in the last section. Overall, the study indicates the key factors for optimizing the performance of CLPRO process.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008400

OSTI ID:: 1977618

Journal Information:: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Journal Name: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews Journal Issue: C Vol. 159; ISSN 1364-0321

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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42 ENGINEERING
Closed-loop PRO
Cost effectiveness
Draw solution
Regeneration process
Specific energy

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