How Sulzer powers every step of the desalination process
EDITOR’ S CHOICE FROM SEAWATER TO FRESHWATER
SULZER
How Sulzer powers every step of the desalination process
With climate change intensifying droughts and reducing freshwater availability, population growth placing increasing pressure on existing resources, and industrial demands pushing water consumption to new heights, global water scarcity has emerged as one of the most pressing challenges of our time.
According to a 2024 United Nations report( 1), roughly half of the global population currently experiences severe water scarcity for at least part of the year, with around a quarter facing“ extremely high” levels of water stress. For many regions, traditional freshwater sources such as rivers, lakes, and aquifers are no longer sufficient to meet the needs of growing communities and economies.
A timely solution
Desalination— the process of converting seawater into freshwater— has become an essential solution for tackling this problem. As such, the global desalination market is now expanding at a rate of more than 9 % annually( 2), with demand projected to grow significantly, driven by the urgent needs of water-scarce regions such as the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia.
There are several different desalination technologies available, but over recent years reverse osmosis( RO) has become the most widely adopted method worldwide. By forcing seawater through semi-permeable membranes to separate, RO desalination provides an effective and scalable solution capable of delivering millions of gallons of fresh water every day. Its
According to a 2024 United Nations report( 1), roughly half of the global population currently experiences severe water scarcity for at least part of the year
flexibility makes it suitable for both large-scale municipal plants and smaller industrial applications.
However, despite decades of incremental improvements making RO more efficient than ever, there’ s no denying the fact that it is still an energy intensive activity. For the operators of these plants, and for their customers, efficient, reliable high-pressure pumps and process equipment play a crucial role in minimizing their energy consumption and the final cost of the supplied water.
The desalination journey The route from seawater to freshwater in a reverse osmosis( RO) desalination plant is a sophisticated, multi-stage process that relies on advanced engineering to ensure efficiency, reliability, and environmental sustainability. At every step, Sulzer plays a pivotal role, offering tailored products and services that optimize the entire process from intake to distribution.
Step 1: Seawater intake The first step in the desalination process involves drawing seawater from the ocean through carefully designed intake structures. These structures are engineered to minimize environmental impact, preventing large debris, sand, and marine life from entering the system and damaging downstream equipment. The efficiency and reliability of this initial stage are critical, as any disruptions can cause costly operational issues.
Sulzer plays a decisive role in this stage by supplying a range of high-efficiency pumps specifically designed for seawater intake in reverse osmosis applications. The key products include vertical turbine pumps( VTPs) and axially split case pumps, each tailored to meet different intake requirements.
These pumps are engineered to withstand the harsh marine environment and continuous operation under demanding conditions. They are constructed from corrosion-resistant materials, such as duplex or superduplex stainless steel, which provide excellent resistance to chlorideinduced corrosion and biofouling, ensuring that the need for replacements and maintenance is kept to a minimum.
Step 2: Pre-treatment
Once the seawater enters the plant, it undergoes pre-treatment to remove suspended solids, sand, biological materials, and other impurities that could damage or clog the RO membranes. This stage is crucial for ensuring the longevity and efficiency of the membranes, which are sensitive to fouling and scaling. Effective pre-treatment not only protects the membranes but also enhances the overall efficiency of the desalination process.
22 PECM Issue 77