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Title: Use of Low-Temperature Geothermal Energy for Desalination in the Western United States

Abstract

This joint project between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Colorado School of Mines has examined the potential of using low-temperature geothermal resources for desalination. The temperature range in question is not well suited for electricity generation, but can be used for direct heating. Accordingly, the best integration approaches use thermal desalination technologies such as multi-effect distillation (MED) or membrane distillation (MD), rather than electric-driven technologies such as reverse osmosis (RO). The examination of different desalination technologies led to the selection of MD for pairing with geothermal energy. MD operates at near-ambient pressure and temperatures less than 100°C with hydrophobic membranes. The technology is modular like RO, but the equipment costs are lower. The thermal energy demands of MD are higher than MED, but this is offset by an ability to run at lower temperatures and a low capital cost. Consequently, a geothermal-MD system could offer a low capital cost and, if paired with low-cost geothermal energy, a low operating cost. The target product water cost is $1.0 to $1.5 per cubic meter depending on system capacity and the cost of thermal energy.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2]
  1. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  2. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Geothermal Technologies Office
OSTI Identifier:
1227955
Report Number(s):
NREL/TP-5500-65277
DOE Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY; geothermal; desalination; multi-effect distillation

Citation Formats

Turchi, Craig S., Akar, Sertac, Cath, Tzahi, Vanneste, Johan, and Geza, Mengistu. Use of Low-Temperature Geothermal Energy for Desalination in the Western United States. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.2172/1227955.
Turchi, Craig S., Akar, Sertac, Cath, Tzahi, Vanneste, Johan, & Geza, Mengistu. Use of Low-Temperature Geothermal Energy for Desalination in the Western United States. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1227955
Turchi, Craig S., Akar, Sertac, Cath, Tzahi, Vanneste, Johan, and Geza, Mengistu. 2015. "Use of Low-Temperature Geothermal Energy for Desalination in the Western United States". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1227955. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1227955.
@article{osti_1227955,
title = {Use of Low-Temperature Geothermal Energy for Desalination in the Western United States},
author = {Turchi, Craig S. and Akar, Sertac and Cath, Tzahi and Vanneste, Johan and Geza, Mengistu},
abstractNote = {This joint project between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Colorado School of Mines has examined the potential of using low-temperature geothermal resources for desalination. The temperature range in question is not well suited for electricity generation, but can be used for direct heating. Accordingly, the best integration approaches use thermal desalination technologies such as multi-effect distillation (MED) or membrane distillation (MD), rather than electric-driven technologies such as reverse osmosis (RO). The examination of different desalination technologies led to the selection of MD for pairing with geothermal energy. MD operates at near-ambient pressure and temperatures less than 100°C with hydrophobic membranes. The technology is modular like RO, but the equipment costs are lower. The thermal energy demands of MD are higher than MED, but this is offset by an ability to run at lower temperatures and a low capital cost. Consequently, a geothermal-MD system could offer a low capital cost and, if paired with low-cost geothermal energy, a low operating cost. The target product water cost is $1.0 to $1.5 per cubic meter depending on system capacity and the cost of thermal energy.},
doi = {10.2172/1227955},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1227955}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}