Brackish water, a water source with salinity between freshwater and seawater, is currently a highly promising alternative water source. Brackish desalination equipment, thanks to technological innovation and adaptation to various scenarios, is gradually alleviating the global imbalance between water supply and demand.
This type of equipment is specifically designed for low-salinity water sources such as groundwater and estuarine seepage water. Through diverse technological means, it achieves efficient desalination and can effectively serve various water supply needs in arid regions, industrial water supply, and other scenarios.
Development trends in brackish desalination technology
Energy recovery system upgrade
Brackish water desalination technology is steadily improving towards greater energy efficiency and modularity. Traditional reverse osmosis technology remains the mainstream, with key advancements focusing on optimizing membrane modules and upgrading energy recovery systems.
The iSave™ energy recovery device developed by Australian company SAE can recover 95% of the remaining energy from concentrated brine, requiring only 1.7 kilowatt-hours of electricity to treat one ton of brackish water. The operating cost is approximately $0.36 per ton, representing a 60% energy saving compared to traditional equipment.
This technology has been widely used in Africa, on islands in Oceania, and in arid regions. Four desalination plants built in South Africa, each capable of processing 5,000 tons of water per day, utilize this technology and have successfully solved the water supply problems for local residents.
Scope of application expanded
다양한 혁신 기술들이 염수 담수화 장비의 적용 범위를 지속적으로 확대하고 있습니다.
미국의 얏 리(Yat Li) 교수 연구팀은 3D 프린팅 기술과 정전용량 탈이온화(CDI) 기술을 결합하여 차세대 염수 담수화 장비를 개발했습니다. 이 장비는 기존의 막 구조 대신 양극과 음극을 사용하여 물에서 염 이온을 흡착합니다. 저염수 처리 시 기존 방식보다 에너지 효율이 훨씬 높으며, 생성되는 농축 염수는 환경에 미치는 영향이 최소화됩니다. 연구팀은 그램당 3000제곱미터의 표면적을 가진 다공성 전도성 탄소 소재를 개발하고, 이를 3차원 상호침투 전극 구조와 결합하여 담수화 효과를 크게 향상시켰으며, 해안 지역 지하수 담수화에 새로운 접근 방식을 제시했습니다.
Brackish desalination technology is developing steadily
Large companies’ investments in brackish water desalination technology are also driving the continuous development of this industry. Companies like Dow Chemical and Hydranautics produce reverse osmosis membranes that offer excellent desalination performance and long service life, making them highly competitive in the global market. Their developed anti-fouling membrane modules can handle complex brackish water compositions, reducing the frequency of equipment maintenance.
German company Meinert focuses on customized services, designing dual-membrane systems combining microfiltration and reverse osmosis for industrial applications. They have performed exceptionally well in wastewater recycling and desalination in industries such as electronics and chemicals.
What are the characteristics of customized desalination equipment?
중동 지역은 염수 담수화 장비에 대한 특별한 수요가 있습니다. 그곳에서 사용되는 장비는 대부분 내식성이 뛰어나고 생산량이 많으며 고온 및 고염도의 가혹한 환경을 견딜 수 있어야 합니다.
European and American regions, on the other hand, place more emphasis on environmental protection, striving to combine desalination equipment with clean energy sources such as solar and wind power, achieving a model of “producing clean water using green electricity.”
Flocean, a Norwegian startup company, has developed an underwater brackish water desalination module that uses the natural pressure of the deep sea to drive desalination, saving 30% to 50% of electricity compared to land-based equipment and also saving considerable space. It is expected to be commercially available in 2026 and will be able to meet water needs in various scenarios.
요약
에너지 효율이 뛰어난 역삼투압 기술부터 혁신적인 무막 담수화 솔루션에 이르기까지, 그리고 건조 지역에서 해안 지역에 이르기까지, 이러한 염수 담수화 장치는 다양한 분야에서 중요한 역할을 합니다. 앞으로 청정에너지와 신소재 기술이 더욱 융합됨에 따라, 염수 담수화 장비는 지속적으로 업그레이드되어 비용을 절감하고 효율성을 높여 지구 수자원의 지속 가능한 이용에 더욱 크게 기여할 것입니다.
