Desempenho de um sistema de dessalinização via osmose inversa usando energia não-convencional, sem a utilização de acumuladores.

Abstract

The lack of drinking water in some places of the world, more precisely in the semi-arid region of Brazil, is an old problem, worsened by the pollution, irregular distribution and high salinity of underground waters. On the other hand, those areas possess a great solar irradiation rate that favors the use of photovoltaic panels, mainly where the electric net is not available. Seeking to improve the life quality and to minimize the problem of the lack of drinking water in those areas, the objective of this work is to study and evaluate an osmosis reverse desalination system, using photovoltaic solar energy coupled to an electronic circuit. This electronic circuit replaces the use of batteries without damaging the motor-bomb. The absence of batteries provides a reduction of the cost and maintenance need; but the system is subordinated to the instantaneous conditions of the solar radiation. This system was installed at the Reference Laboratory of Desalination (LABDES) in the Federal University of Campina Grande. The system was evaluated with sodium chloride solutions of 1,000 and 2,500 mg/L NaCl concentrations, and a well water of 3,800 mg/L TDS concentration. The meteorological conditions and the concentrations of the feeding water influence directly the applied pressure and consequently the permeate production. Even with the intermittent energy delivered by the solar photovoltaic panels, the desalination system showed good technical conditions to produce 0.25 m3/h of potable water. The economical statements , that the implantation cost-benefit represents, operational and maintenance to take care of isolated communities, showed that the lesser desalinizaded water cost is gotten when the desalination system is installed in locality in which already possesss the well and a place to serve of shelter for the desalination system. For these localities the use of photovoltaics panels is viable.