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Siemens develops energy-efficient sea-water desalination technology
membrane
TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOG Y
ISSN 0958-2118 August 2008
www.membrane-technology.com
Siemens develops energy-efficient sea-water desalination technology
S
iemens Water Technologies is developing a sea-water desalination technology which, it claims, could cut energy consumption by at least 50% compared with existing desalination technologies. The development of the technology is being supported by a SG$4 million research grant from Singapore’s Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI). ‘We truly consider this developing technology a breakthrough in the desalination market – with significant global implications on water resource management and the wider use of desalination in the future,’ commented Chuck Gordon, Chief Executive Office of Siemens Water Technologies. Siemens will use the research grant to finance work on the technology at its global R&D centre based in Singapore. EWI’s challenge requires the demonstration of a system with an energy consumption of 1.5 kWh/m3, which is about half of that demonstrated using the best available technology, says Siemens. Compared with most operating desalination plants, which consume as much as 10 kWh/m3,
the reduction could even be much higher. The reduction in power usage is critical if sea-water desalination is to be used extensively worldwide to reduce CO2 emissions. Siemens says that its technology is based on a concept that involves removing salts from sea water in an electric field. The project awarded under this Challenge RFP will investigate a process that integrates electrodialysis, ion-exchange softening, and a final desalting step that uses a novel, continuous electro-deionisation process to drive salt separation under minimum energy demand. Contacts: Siemens Water Technologies, 181 Thorn Hill Road, Warrendale, PA 15086, USA. Tel: +1 724 772 0044, www.industry.siemens.com Siemens AG, Industry Solutions, Schuhstrasse 60, D91052 Erlangen, Germany. Tel: +49 9131 70, www. industry.siemens.com Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI), Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, 40 Scotts Road, Environment Building, Singapore 228231. Tel: +65 6732 7733, www.mewr.gov.sg/ewi
Inge Watertechnologies adopts new corporate structure
I
nge Watertechnologies AG, a German company that specialises in ultrafiltration (UF) technologies for water treatment, is adopting a new corporate structure. Inge Watertechnologies will be the holding company under which the various subsidiaries will operate as nationally oriented, legally independent companies. These subsidiaries comprise the limited company Inge GmbH, based in Greifenberg, which primarily houses the research and development, and production and distribution services of the patented Multibore membranes and the
Contents News Siemens develops energy-efficient sea-water desalination technology
Continued on page 16...
1, 16
GE technology protects China’s third largest lake
2
Fast membrane filtration of viscose solutions
2, 3
System from Basin Water targets organic contanimants in ground-water
3, 4
Dow technology selected for projects in Cyprus and Australia
4
Siemens start up wastewater reuse system in Beijing, China
4, 5
Commission welcomes EP vote on water quality standards
5
Black & Veatch secures major projects in Asia–Pacific region
5, 6
Particle imaging system provides early warning of harmful blue-green algae
6
Expanding industrial sector and stringent regulations drive water treatment in Poland
6, 7
Drought-proof water system ensures golf course stays green
7
Millipore works to reduce its carbon footprint
7
WaterReuse launches first international division - in Australia
Dizzer modules, and the Inge Group’s sales office, which is in China. Wolfgang Distler, Chief Executive Officer of Inge Watertechnologies and spokesperson for the executive board, said: ‘Water treatment and UF technology are topics of global significance. We currently feel that the strongest potential for growth for our technologies lies in Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.’ ‘The holding company structure that we have now adopted will allow us to respond
1
Inge Watertechnologies adopts new corporate structure
16
Features Renewable energy drives desalination processes in remote or arid regions
8, 9
Singapore’s first Water Week a global platform for technologies, products and initiatives
9–11
Regulars In Brief
3, 5, 7
Research Trends
12–13
Patents
13–15
Events Calendar
16
ISSN 0958-2118/08 © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.
TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOG Y
ISSN 0958-2118 August 2008
www.membrane-technology.com
Siemens develops energy-efficient sea-water desalination technology
S
iemens Water Technologies is developing a sea-water desalination technology which, it claims, could cut energy consumption by at least 50% compared with existing desalination technologies. The development of the technology is being supported by a SG$4 million research grant from Singapore’s Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI). ‘We truly consider this developing technology a breakthrough in the desalination market – with significant global implications on water resource management and the wider use of desalination in the future,’ commented Chuck Gordon, Chief Executive Office of Siemens Water Technologies. Siemens will use the research grant to finance work on the technology at its global R&D centre based in Singapore. EWI’s challenge requires the demonstration of a system with an energy consumption of 1.5 kWh/m3, which is about half of that demonstrated using the best available technology, says Siemens. Compared with most operating desalination plants, which consume as much as 10 kWh/m3,
the reduction could even be much higher. The reduction in power usage is critical if sea-water desalination is to be used extensively worldwide to reduce CO2 emissions. Siemens says that its technology is based on a concept that involves removing salts from sea water in an electric field. The project awarded under this Challenge RFP will investigate a process that integrates electrodialysis, ion-exchange softening, and a final desalting step that uses a novel, continuous electro-deionisation process to drive salt separation under minimum energy demand. Contacts: Siemens Water Technologies, 181 Thorn Hill Road, Warrendale, PA 15086, USA. Tel: +1 724 772 0044, www.industry.siemens.com Siemens AG, Industry Solutions, Schuhstrasse 60, D91052 Erlangen, Germany. Tel: +49 9131 70, www. industry.siemens.com Environment and Water Industry Development Council (EWI), Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, 40 Scotts Road, Environment Building, Singapore 228231. Tel: +65 6732 7733, www.mewr.gov.sg/ewi
Inge Watertechnologies adopts new corporate structure
I
nge Watertechnologies AG, a German company that specialises in ultrafiltration (UF) technologies for water treatment, is adopting a new corporate structure. Inge Watertechnologies will be the holding company under which the various subsidiaries will operate as nationally oriented, legally independent companies. These subsidiaries comprise the limited company Inge GmbH, based in Greifenberg, which primarily houses the research and development, and production and distribution services of the patented Multibore membranes and the
Contents News Siemens develops energy-efficient sea-water desalination technology
Continued on page 16...
1, 16
GE technology protects China’s third largest lake
2
Fast membrane filtration of viscose solutions
2, 3
System from Basin Water targets organic contanimants in ground-water
3, 4
Dow technology selected for projects in Cyprus and Australia
4
Siemens start up wastewater reuse system in Beijing, China
4, 5
Commission welcomes EP vote on water quality standards
5
Black & Veatch secures major projects in Asia–Pacific region
5, 6
Particle imaging system provides early warning of harmful blue-green algae
6
Expanding industrial sector and stringent regulations drive water treatment in Poland
6, 7
Drought-proof water system ensures golf course stays green
7
Millipore works to reduce its carbon footprint
7
WaterReuse launches first international division - in Australia
Dizzer modules, and the Inge Group’s sales office, which is in China. Wolfgang Distler, Chief Executive Officer of Inge Watertechnologies and spokesperson for the executive board, said: ‘Water treatment and UF technology are topics of global significance. We currently feel that the strongest potential for growth for our technologies lies in Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.’ ‘The holding company structure that we have now adopted will allow us to respond
1
Inge Watertechnologies adopts new corporate structure
16
Features Renewable energy drives desalination processes in remote or arid regions
8, 9
Singapore’s first Water Week a global platform for technologies, products and initiatives
9–11
Regulars In Brief
3, 5, 7
Research Trends
12–13
Patents
13–15
Events Calendar
16
ISSN 0958-2118/08 © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.