Simulation and optimisation of reverse osmosis desalination process with renewable energy

About the Project

Desalination of seawater has been gaining increasing momentum to overcome the freshwater scarcity around the world. Among the various technologies, RO (reverse osmosis) is one of the most promising seawater desalination technologies for freshwater production but is energy intensive. Variable seawater temperature and salinity affects the desalination process in terms of energy consumption, productivity, cost and operation.

In this research performance of a RO desalination process will be parametrically studied using model based techniques while meeting variable demand of freshwater throughout the year. Muti-grade water production and renewable energy option (solar, wind, geothermal) will also be considered to meet the energy demand of the RO process. Alternative RO configurations with different commercial membranes will also be evaluated for determining the optimum design and operation of the RO process.

How to apply

Formal applications can be submitted via the University of Bradford web site; applicants will need to register an account, select 'Postgraduate Research' as the course type, and then use the keywords 'chemical engineering'. Applicants should then specify the project title in the 'Research Proposal' section.

Funding Notes

This is a self-funded PhD project; applicants will be expected to pay their own fees or have a suitable source of third-party funding. UK students may be able to apply for a Doctoral Loan from Student Finance for financial support.