TEMISTh has launched the manufacture of DESOLINATION heat exchanger core!

TEMISTh has launched the manufacture of DESOLINATION heat exchanger core!

by | Nov 9, 2023 | Milestones, Results - Combination of CSP pland and forward osmosis desalination

The DESOLINATION project has reached an important milestone: after an initial design and simulation phase carried out by our project partner TEMISTh, the first heat exchanger model has now been printed!

Heat Exchangers can take different forms depending on many parameters: temperatures, pressures, chemical properties of the fluids, etc. But they are critical to the heat transfer within the CSP cycles to recover heat from the sun and make the turbine work.

In DESOLINATION, specific work will be on exchanging heat between the power cycle (air in the existing plant, CO2 in the innovative one) and the desalination draw solution (highly concentrated solution). New Printed Circuit Heat Exchangers (PCHEs) and Printed Fin Heat Exchangers (PFHEs) will thus be produced.

Following a simulation and design phase for supercritical CO2 and molten salt, our project partner TEMISTh has launched the manufacture of the Heat Exchanger core (system used to transfer heat between a source and a working fluid).

The aim of this first mock-up is to answer technical questions such as powder removal, assembly and design validation.

The next step is to test the mock-up on an sCO2 loop for validation.

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Baker Hughes Showcases Sustainability Leadership at ADIPEC 2023

Baker Hughes Showcases Sustainability Leadership at ADIPEC 2023

by | Oct 24, 2023 | Events

Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ADIPEC 2023 served as a global platform for transformative solutions in energy and sustainability. Among the contributions was Baker Hughes’ presentation on its role in the DESOLINATION project.

Key highlights from Baker Hughes’ presentation included:

  • Advanced Turbomachinery Solutions: Baker Hughes presented innovations in axial expanders and centrifugal pumps optimized for sCO₂ Rankine cycles, enabling efficient energy recovery in CSP-powered desalination systems.
  • Material Science Excellence: The company detailed rigorous testing and optimization processes, ensuring chemical compatibility and durability of CO₂ blends used in its innovative cycles.
  • Sustainable Performance: Baker Hughes showcased solutions capable of reducing CO₂ emissions by up to 70% compared to conventional desalination methods, while achieving cycle efficiencies of over 42%.
See BH Presentation

Baker Hughes highlighted its critical contributions to DESOLINATION, a 19-partner international effort designed to merge Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) with Forward Osmosis (FO) desalination. The project aims to address pressing global challenges such as water scarcity and carbon emissions, with a pilot plant planned for Saudi Arabia in 2025.

Baker Hughes’ involvement in DESOLINATION underscores its commitment to fostering innovation in the water-energy nexus. By leveraging its expertise in turbomachinery, material science, and renewable energy integration, the company is driving forward solutions that address critical global challenges.

ADIPEC 2023 attendees left inspired by Baker Hughes’ vision for a sustainable future—one where advanced technology meets the growing demand for energy-efficient, low-carbon water desalination systems.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2118/215993-MS

Soós Ernő International Scientific Conference (VSZI’23)

Soós Ernő International Scientific Conference (VSZI’23)

by | Oct 20, 2023 | Events, News, Results - Draw solution

After presenting the ‘Implementation of thermo-responsive polyalkylene glycol-based draw solutions in the forward osmosis process‘ (co-prepared by I. Petrinić, N. Jančič, and H. Bukšek) at Soós Ernő’s international scientific conference on Water and wastewater treatment in the industry in 2022 (VSZI’22), our project partner, the University of Maribor, is back with a new presentation for the 2023 edition!

Irena Petrinić, Ross D. Jansen-van Vuuren, Ana Ambrož, Thomas Luxbacher, and Hermina Bukšek, from the University of Maribor (DESOLINATION partner) gave an oral presentation focusing on ‘Thermo-responsive PAG based commercial draw solutions for forward osmosis‘ at Soós Ernő 2023 (VSZI’23) organised by the Soós Ernő Research and Development Center, University of Pannonia Nagykanizsa – University Center for Circular Economy and the Foundation for Higher Education of Kanizsa.

The production of clean drinking water is also a priority in countries with abundant water resources and growing solvent demand. The main goal of the research center, founded in 2014, is to carry out international researches in the field of water purification and water treatment, by using the research results and experience in water purification and water treatment in the Nagykanizsa region which is based on decades of history. It is also of utmost importance for us to train specialists who are able to solve various water and waste water treatment problems in industries and public utilities.

In order to support this goal and provide the future professionals, talent management is needed. Elementary and high school students can have the insight into the work of the research center as we offer them lectures, open lab sessions and summer camps, all promoting natural sciences.

The annual Soós Ernő International Scientific Conference, through the presentations and discussions of scientific and industrial professionals in the field of water and waste water treatment, will allow knowledge sharing, networking and exchange of experience which are essential for development,

Download VSZI'22 poster
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An Advanced Desalination System with an Innovative CO2 Power Cycle Integrated with Renewable Energy Sources

An Advanced Desalination System with an Innovative CO2 Power Cycle Integrated with Renewable Energy Sources

by | Oct 18, 2023 | Publications, Results - CO2 Mixtures in thermodynamic cycles

The rise in CO2 emissions is causing major problems like glaciers melting and sea levels rising. To help tackle these issues, the DESOLINATION project introduces a cutting-edge power cycle for desalination systems, using innovative CO2-based mixtures as the next generation of working fluids. This paper highlights the project’s benefits and the technical hurdles overcome in designing the necessary machinery.
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Key factors were considered when developing the thermal cycle and choosing the working fluid, including safety, environmental impact, material compatibility, and efficiency.

The system relies on turbomachinery—specifically a pump and an expander—to recover heat from a primary solar-powered cycle. This setup allows flexible heat production while simulating different solar conditions.

One major challenge was picking the right CO2 blend to balance efficiency and practicality. By adding a “dopant” to CO2, the fluid’s properties could be adjusted, allowing the system to use a pump instead of a compressor. This makes heat exchange more efficient by keeping the fluid at a temperature suitable for the solar heat source. Several dopants were tested to find the best one for efficiency and compatibility.

Material compatibility was another challenge, as the equipment needs to handle temperatures as high as 550°C, typical for solar-thermal power technology. The final dopant choice was a trade-off between reducing corrosion and maximizing performance.

The DESOLINATION project aims to launch its first pilot plant in 2025, offering competitive solutions with solar-thermal efficiency above 42%, efficient freshwater production, and up to 70% lower CO2 emissions per cubic meter of desalinated water compared to current systems.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2118/215993-MS

Characterization of the physical properties of the thermoresponsiveblock-copolymer PAGB2000 and numerical assessment of its potentialities in Forward Osmosis desalination

Characterization of the physical properties of the thermoresponsiveblock-copolymer PAGB2000 and numerical assessment of its potentialities in Forward Osmosis desalination

by | Oct 16, 2023 | Publications, Results - Draw solution

Forward Osmosis is a promising strategy for desalination processes, however some aspects have to be better characterized to make it competitive with other affirmed technologies. One of these aspects is the selection of the draw agent, i.e., a polymeric solution that has to fulfill different requirements to guarantee both high membrane performances and good regeneration process. Previous studies have identified a thermoresponsive copolymer known as PAGB2000 as potential draw agent. However, in the open literature there is no information on the thermo-physical properties required for a fully characterization of the polymer itself, hence, different experimental campaigns have been conducted to quantify: phase behavior, osmotic pressure, density, dynamic viscosity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and isobaric specific heat capacity. These properties were then used in a computational model to simulate the whole desalination process. Recovery ratio, specific electric consumption and specific thermal consumption were compared with the ones obtained in a previous work, showing that a detailed characterization of the thermo-physical properties is required to get accurate and realistic predictions of the system performance.

Keywords: Polymer, Draw agent, Forward osmosis, Desalination.

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