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CHE
461
Water Desalination
The course covers the basic concept of water desalination and combines water chemistry, scaling, corrosion, heat transfer principles, material behavior, and design principles as applied to desalination processes. Attention is given to the thermal (flash, vapor compression) and non-thermal (reverse-osmosis, electro-dialysis) desalination techniques, water properties and quality criteria and standards as well as corrosion behavior and its control in desalination plants will be discussed.
Prerequisites:
0640343
0640461
(3-0-3)

Prerequisites by Topic:

  • Principles of material and energy balances
  • Design of pumps.
  • Heat exchanger design and fouling factor calculations
  • Thermodynamics
  • Laminar and turbulent flows
  • Elements of plant economics

Textbook(s):

Lecture notes

Reference(s):

Related references will be reserved at the library for students use.

Topics Covered:

  • Classification of desalination processes (1 hour)
  • Needs for water desalination (in Kuwait) (1 hour)
  • Water chemistry (2 hours)
  • Scale formation, mechanism, and control -- case study (3 hours)
  • Disinfection processes - case study (3 hours)
  • Intake and discharge in desalination plants -- case study (2 hours)
  • Design, modeling, and performance calculations of a single and multistage MSF desalination plant - case study (10 hours)
  • Design, modeling, and performance calculations of a single and multiple effect (ME) desalination process - case study (5 hours)
  • Design of a vapor compression (VC) desalination process (3 hours)
  • Design, modeling, and performance calculations reverse osmosis (RO) desalination process - case study (5 hours)
  • Pretreatment and post-treatment applied in desalination plants - case study (2 hours)
  • Material selection - case study (2 hours)
  • Process economics and economical comparison of different desalination processes - case study (2 hours)

Assessment Criteria:

  1. Homework and computer assignments
  2. Quizzes
  3. Midterm exams
  4. Final exam
  5. Term project
  6. Oral presentation

Course Objectives:

  1. Review current desalination technologies, market status, practices, and learn elements of desalination processes and related treatments [1, 2]
  2. Learn how to apply fundamentals of engineering sciences and to use modern computer tools to design and evaluate the performance of different desalination processes [1, 2]
  3. Understand importance of the desalination industry to Kuwait and the Gulf countries and its impact on the society, other industrial processes, environment, and natural resources [3].

Performance Criteria:

Objective 1:

  1. Know the history and classification of desalination processes (2,4)
  2. Understand energy requirements for desalination (2,6)

Objective 2:

  1. Model and design of thermal and non-thermal desalination processes (1,2,6,7)
  2. Identify the type of scale formed and understand the effect of different operational parameters on the scale formation and control (1,2,4,6,7)
  3. Prepare and present a term project on desalination (1,2,3,5,6,7)
  4. Use modern engineering tools (e.g., new software, documentation tools, presentation, etc.) []{dir="rtl"}in presenting their project related work (3,7)

Objective 3:

  1. Review natural water resources and understand the role of desalination and water reclamation in Kuwait, the Gulf countries, and the Middle East (2,4).
  2. Study impact of desalination on the society, industry, and environment (2,4,6)

ABET Category Content:

Engineering Science: 1.5 Credits or 50%

Engineering Design: 1.5 Credits or 50%

Course Classification

Student Outcomes Level (L, M, H) Relevant Activities
1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics. H Apply the basic principles of mass and heat balance equations. Understand the water quality analysis and guidelines (WHO standard). Fouling and corrosion principles
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors. H Compare the water resources in Kuwait. Design and model thermal and non-thermal desalination processes. Calculate and measure the performance of real desalination plants.. Compare the desalination plant intake and brine discharge structure. The environmental impact of the seawater intake, brine discharge and emissions is assigned as a project.. Checking the water quality and monitoring system as a project
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences. M Desalination plant site visit. Project presentation
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts. H Site visit to desalination plant. Study the operation sheet for a real desalination plants in Kuwait as case studies.. Recognize the effect of water quality on the operation, health and environment. Study the fuel type, consumption, environmental and economic impacts. Desalination plant technology and site selection (project)
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives. M Course project on a specific subject related to water technology in Kuwait (from the intake to the consumers). Literature review and library search
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions. H Considering a real desalination plants in Kuwait as a case studies in the course topics. Calculate the desalination plant performance that requires interpretation of the real data and lab analysis. Study the trial a new antiscalent or any chemical procedure, calculations and analysis used in the desalination plant.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies. H Considering a real desalination plants in Kuwait as case studies and study the problems and the effectiveness of the solutions.