Model Based Simulation and Genetic Algorithm Based Optimisation of Spiral Wound Membrane RO Process for Improved Dimethylphenol Rejection from Wastewater

Studying Different Operating Conditions on Reverse Osmosis Performance in the Treatment of Wastewater Containing Nickel (II) Ions

The reverse osmosis performance in removing nickel ions from artificial wastewater was experimentally and mathematically assessed. The impact of temperature, pressure, feed concentration, and feed flow rate on the permeate flux and Ni (II) rejection % were studied. Experiments were conducted using a SEPA CF042 Membrane Test Skid-TFC BW30XFR with applied pressures of 10, 20, 30, and 40 bar and feed concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 150 ppm with varying operating temperatures of 25, 35, and 45 °C, while the feed flow rate was changed between 2, 3.2, and 4.4 L/min. The permeate flux and the Ni (II) removal % were directly proportional to the feed temperature and operating pressure, but inversely proportional to the feed concentration, where the permeate flux increased by 49% when the temperature was raised from 25 to 45 °C, while the Ni (II) removal % slightly increased by 4%. In addition, the permeate flux increased by 188% and the Ni (II) removal % increased to 95.19% when the pressure was raised from 10 to 40 bar. The feed flow rate, on the other hand, had a negligible influence on the permeate flux and Ni (II) removal %. The temperature correction factor (TCF) was determined to be directly proportional to the feed temperature, but inversely proportional to the operating pressure; nevertheless, the TCF was unaffected either by the feed flow rate or the feed concentration. Based on the experimental data, mathematical models were generated for both the permeate flux and nickel removal %. The results showed that both models matched the experimental data well.

Simulation and Operational Optimization of RO Based Desalination for Coal-Fired Power Plants’ Wastewater

Focusing on the problems of opaqueness and high energy consumption in coal-fired power plant wastewater recycling processes, this paper studies the simulation and operational optimization of coal-fired power plant wastewater treatment by taking a coal-fired power plant system in Inner Mongolia as an example. Firstly, based on the solution–diffusion theory, pressure drop, and osmotic concentration polarization, a mechanistic model equation for coal-fired power plant wastewater treatment is developed. Secondly, the equation fitness and equation parameters are calibrated to obtain an accurate model. Thirdly, the system is simulated and analyzed so as to obtain the influence and change trajectories of different feed flowrates, temperatures, pressures, and concentrations on various aspects of the system’s performance, such as water recovery rate, salt rejection rate, and so on. Finally, in order to reduce the operating cost of the system, an optimization analysis is carried out, with the lowest specific energy consumption and average daily operating cost as optimization goals, and the performance changes of the system before and after optimization under three different working conditions are compared. The results show that adopting the given optimal strategy can significantly reduce the system’s operational cost. This research is helpful for the digitization and low-carbon operation of coal-fired power plant wastewater treatment systems.