Incinerator System for Spent Reverse Osmosis Membrane Management: Conceptual Design and Feasibility Study

Abstract

Desalination of sea water using selectively permeable reverse osmosis membrane modules has emerged as a possible long term solution to the global problem of potable water shortage. These aromatic polyamide based modules have a useful working life of about 2-3 years and the spent membranes will have to be handled at the desalination plant site itself. An on-site incineration plant with advanced flue gas conditioning and immobilization provision has been proposed as the solution to this problem. The polymeric membrane modules will be completely converted to carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapour upon combustion, thereby significant reduction in solid waste volume will be attained. This work presents a simplified analysis to estimate the quantity of waste to be handled by the incinerator, material and energy balances for conceptual design of the incineration plant and its carbon dioxide capture system and addresses the associated techno-commercial feasibility aspects of such a facility. Energy recovery from the combustion chamber has also been considered in this study. The methodology presented here will be useful for quick sizing and feasibility study of an incineration plant for other kinds of solid wastes with known combustion characteristics as well.

Keywords: Desalination, Flue gas, Incinerator, Reverse osmosis, Spent membrane, Waste to energy.

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