Geothermal Desalination
The problems of huge megacities nestled along increasingly water-stressed coasts, is an increasingly common site globally. Nowhere perhaps is this more apparent than in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and the Indian subcontinent. Paetoro is working with experts in desalination and geothermal facilities engineering, including Dr Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, to investigate whether new advances in multiple effect distillation with adsorption desalination processes appended, can be usefully deployed utilising geothermal heat. Small scale pilot projects of the technology already exist at KAUST in Saudi Arabia and have seen excellent desalination efficiencies competitive with membrane technologies, and potentially removing many of the operational constraints and environmental issues. The technology requires 65 deg C input temperatures, readily achievable in aquifers covering much of the region.
While geothermal based desalination is likely to occur at a smaller to moderate scale compared to some larger fossil fuel, nuclear, and solar powered initiatives, it nonetheless provides an intriguing option in countries where extensive oil and gas drilling has already occurred and so the subsurface reservoir conditions are well known. Marrying the distributions of these resources to the local markets for geothermal heat, is an ongoing activity of Paetoro, in discussion with these experts in the field. Special thanks must also go to Professor D. Chandrasekharam for sharing so freely his work on the subject. See also the Paetoro Events page for a presentation on the subject.
While geothermal based desalination is likely to occur at a smaller to moderate scale compared to some larger fossil fuel, nuclear, and solar powered initiatives, it nonetheless provides an intriguing option in countries where extensive oil and gas drilling has already occurred and so the subsurface reservoir conditions are well known. Marrying the distributions of these resources to the local markets for geothermal heat, is an ongoing activity of Paetoro, in discussion with these experts in the field. Special thanks must also go to Professor D. Chandrasekharam for sharing so freely his work on the subject. See also the Paetoro Events page for a presentation on the subject.
