[카타르] 담수화 파일럿 테스트 연구 시작

카타르는 사우디아라비아, UAE 등 중동 국가와 함께 담수화 플랜트의 에너지 소비를 절감시키는 연구에 합류했다. 카타르 수전력청(QWEC)과 카타르 환경에너지연구기관(QEERI)은 담수화 파일럿 테스트를 설치하는 MOU에 서명했다.

이 연구는 멤브레인 및 열 담수화 공정 모두를 아우르는 것으로, RO 파일럿 테스트는 녹조발생의 상황에도 담수화시설의 안정적 운영을 보장하는 전처리 공정을 개발·최적화하기 위해 시행될 예정이다.

[원문보기]

Algal bloom proof desalination target in new Qatari research

Qatar has joined efforts underway by other Middle Eastern nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE to bring down the energy consumption of desalination plants.

Water producer Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QWEC) and Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to install desalination pilot tests.
 
The research will address both membrane and thermal desalination processes - the latter accounting 99% of municipal water supplied to Qatar.

The Reverse Osmosis (RO) pilot test would be used to develop and optimise pre-treatment processes to ensure "reliable operation in desalination facilities, even during algal blooms, and the exceeding of the boron concentration in the RO permeates".

The Multi Effect Distillation (MED) pilot test would be used to develop a proof of concept of patented ideas that reduce the energy consumption and improve energy efficiency of MED technology, QEERI said.

QEWC’s site at Dukhan coast will be used to secure the intake/outfall facilities and the electricity required to operate both RO and MED pilot test continuously.

The Dukhan site was previously used by QEWC for a small scale RO project to treat seawater for use as boiler feed water.

QEERI said “desalination methods used in Qatar and most of the Gulf Cooperation Council region are energy intensive and thus the desalted water is expensive”.

Dr. Khalid Al-Subai, acting executive director at QEERI, said: “This agreement with QEWC is crucial to test some of the processes developed by QEERI that can radically reduce the cost and energy use of current desalination methods.”

[출처 = Water World / 2016년 5월 13일]