Multi-objective optimization of a geothermal steam turbine combined with reverse osmosis and multi-effect desalination for sustainable freshwater production

A novel geothermal desalination system is proposed and optimized in terms of maximizing the exergy efficiency and minimizing the total cost rate of the system. The system includes a geothermal steam turbine with a flash chamber, a reverse osmosis unit and a multi-effect distillation system. First, exergy and economic analyses of the system are performed using Engineering Equation Software. Then, an artificial neural network is used to develop a mathematical function linking input design variables and objective functions for this system. Finally, a multi-objective optimization is carried out using a genetic algorithm to determine the optimum solutions. The Utopian method is used to select the favorable solution from the optimal solutions in the Pareto frontier. Also, the distributions of the values of design variables within their allowable ranges are investigated. It is found that the optimum exergy efficiency and total cost rate of the geothermal desalination system are 29.6% and 3410 $/h, respectively. Increasing the seawater salinity and decreasing the intake geothermal water temperature results in an improvement in both exergy efficiency and total cost rate of the system, while variations in the flash pressure and turbine outlet pressure lead to a conflict between the exergy efficiency and total cost rate of the geothermal desalination system over the range of their variations.

Hydrothermal Fluids and Cold Meteoric Waters along Tectonic-Controlled Open Spaces in Upper Cretaceous Carbonate Rocks, NE-Iraq: Scanning Data from In Situ U-Pb Geochronology and Microthermometry

The Upper Cretaceous carbonates along the Zagros thrust-fold belt “Harir-Safin anticlines” experienced extensive hot brine fluids that produced several phases of hydrothermal cements, including saddle dolomites. Detailed fluid inclusion microthermometry data show that saddle dolomites precipitated from hydrothermal (83–160 °C) and saline fluids (up to 25 eq. wt.% NaCl; i.e., seven times higher than the seawater salinity). The fluids interacted with brine/rocks during their circulation before invading the Upper Cretaceous carbonates. Two entrapment episodes (early and late) of FIs from the hydrothermal “HT” cements are recognized. The early episode is linked to fault-related fractures and was contemporaneous with the precipitation of the HT cements. The fluid inclusions leaked and were refilled during a later diagenetic phase. The late episode is consistent with low saline fluids (0.18 and 2.57 eq. wt.% NaCl) which had a meteoric origin. Utilizing the laser ablation U-Pb age dating method, two numerical absolute ages of ~70 Ma and 3.8 Ma are identified from calcrete levels in the Upper Cretaceous carbonates. These two ages obtained in the same level of calcrete indicate that this unit was twice exposed to subaerial conditions. The earlier exposure was associated with alveolar and other diagenetic features, such as dissolution, micritization, cementation, while the second calcrete level is associated with laminae, pisolitic, and microstromatolite features which formed during the regional uplifting of the area in Pliocene times. In conclusion, the hydrothermal-saddle dolomites were precipitated from high temperature saline fluids, while calcrete levels entrapped large monophase with very low salinity fluid inclusions, indicative for a low temperature precipitation from water with a meteoric origin.

Temporal Changes in Physiological Responses of Bay Scallop: Performance of Antioxidant Mechanism in Argopecten irradians in Response to Sudden Changes in Habitat Salinity

Changes to habitat salinity may induce oxidative stress in aquatic organisms. The effect of salinity on the antioxidant function of bay scallops was investigated at 55, 70, 85 and 120% of seawater salinity (SW), with 100% SW as the control. The scallops were sampled 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after the salinity change to measure superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels, as well as apoptosis in the digestive diverticula and/or hemolymph. The SOD immunohistochemistry and apoptotic response were assessed at 55% and 120% SW at 12 h. Antioxidant expressions at 55% and 70% SW peaked at 24 h or 48 h, and then decreased. At 120% SW, they increased with exposure time. The H2O2 and LPO levels at each SW increased significantly with time. A comet assay also revealed that changes in salinity increased the rate of nuclear DNA damage in all the salinity groups. Thus, variations in salinity result in significant physiological responses in bay scallops. A change in habitat salinity of 15% or more produces oxidative stress that cannot be resolved by the body’s antioxidant mechanism, suggesting that excessive generation of reactive oxygen species can lead to cell death.

Treatment of seawater salinity sewage with intermittent sand bioreactors

In water stressed areas, flush toilets using fresh water are unsustainable. This paper explores the ability of intermittent sand bioreactors (ISBs) to treat seawater salinity septic tank effluent for on-site wastewater treatment in coastal regions. Two ISB designs, sand only and layered sand and gravel, are compared for treatment efficacy. Six columns of each design were constructed in the laboratory and dosed four times per day, for a total hydraulic loading rate of 4 cm/day, with artificial seawater salinity septic tank effluent over 21 months. Average TOC and ammonia removal for both designs averaged >90% and >96%, respectively. No statistically significant difference existed in the percent removal or effluent concentrations between the two designs. Half of the columns of each design produced effluent with >4 mg/L ammonia at least once during the study, resulting in discontinuation of wastewater application for seven weeks. This resting approach resulted in effective treatment for up to 9 months (limited by the end of the study). The results indicate that both ISB designs can treat artificial seawater salinity septic tank effluent, but that an additional 1/3 capacity is needed to maintain a consistent hydraulic loading rate while accounting for resting ISBs when treatment efficacy declines.

Prediction of Salinity Based on Meteorological Data Using the Backpropagation Neural Network Method

Salinity is the level of salt dissolved in water. The salinity level of seawater can affect the hydrological balance and climate change. The salinity level of seawater in each area varies depending on the influencing factors, that is evaporation and precipitation (rainfall). One way to find out the salinity level is by taking seawater samples, which requires a long time and costs a lot. In this study, the salinity level of seawater can be predicted by utilizing time series data patterns from evaporation and precipitation using artificial neural network learning, namely the backpropagation neural network. The evaporation and precipitation data used were derived from the ECMWF dataset, while the salinity data were derived from NOAA where each data was taken at the coordinate point of 9,625 113,625 in the south of Java island. Seawater salinity, evaporation, and precipitation data were formed into a 7-day time series data. This study conducted several backpropagation architectural experiments, that is the learning rate, hidden layer, and the number of nodes in the hidden layer to obtain the best results. The results of the seawater salinity prediction were obtained at a MAPE value of 2.063% with a model architecture using 14 input layers, 2 hidden layers with 10 nodes and 2 nodes, 1 output layer, and a learning rate of 0.7. Predicted sea water salinity data ranging from 33 to 35 ppt. Therefore, the prediction system for seawater salinity using the backpropagation method can be said to be good in providing information about the salinity level of sea water on the island of Java.

Surveying a Floating Iceberg With the USV SEADRAGON

The calving, drifting, and melting of icebergs has local, regional, and global implications. Besides the impacts to local ecosystems due to changes in seawater salinity and temperature, the freshwater influx and transport can have significant regional effects related to the ocean circulation. The increased influx of freshwater ice due to increase calving from ice shelves and the destabilization of the continental ice sheet will affect sea levels globally. In addition, drifting icebergs pose threats to offshore operations because they could damage offshore installations, e.g., pipelines and subsea manifolds, and interrupt marine transportation. Iceberg drift and deterioration models have been developed to better predict climate change and protect offshore operations. Iceberg shape is one of the most critical parameters in these models, but it is challenging to obtain because of iceberg movement caused by winds, waves, and currents. In this paper, we present an algorithm for iceberg motion estimation and shape reconstruction based on in-situ point cloud measurements. The algorithm is developed based on point cloud matching strategies, policy-based optimization, and Kalman filtering. A down-sampling method is also integrated to reduce the processing time for possible real-time applications. The motion estimation algorithm is applied to a simulated data set and field measurements collected by an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) on a free-floating, translating, and rotating, iceberg. In the field data, the above-water iceberg surface was measured with a scanning LIDAR, while the below-water portion (0–50 m) was profiled using a side-looking multi-beam sonar. When applying the motion estimation algorithm to these two independent point cloud measurements collected by the two sensing modalities, consistent iceberg motion estimates are obtained. The resulting motion estimates are then used to reconstruct the iceberg shape. During the field experiment, additional oceanographic measurements, such as temperature, ocean current, and wind, were collected simultaneously by the USV. We have observed water upwelling and a colder and fresher water plume at the sea surface downstream the iceberg. Combining the iceberg shape rendering and the surrounding environmental measurements, we estimated the iceberg melting parameters due to the sensible heat flux and surface wave erosion at different iceberg sections.