• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.216-222
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• 2021

This is an experiment to complement new ways of using concentrated water discharged from the seawater desalination plant. In this study, metakaolin, which has excellent chloride ion immobilization effect, was used as the main binder, and 10% and 20% of calcium oxide were substituted with the activator. In addition, tap-water(TW) and reverse osmosis brine water(RW) were used as mixed water. As a result of the experiment, the mixture using RW showed higher compressive strength than TW. It also showed low water absorption and high density. In the mixture using RW as mixed water, a hydration reaction substance called Friedel's salt could be observed. Considering the corrosion problem of steel, RW is considered to be applicable to products such as non-reinforced concrete, brick, and curb stone. Through this study, it is thought that it is meaningful to propose a new application method other than the ocean release of RW.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.573-579
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• 2011

As rapid advances in technologies continue, seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination systems are now more energy-efficient than conventional thermal processes. Some SWRO desalination plants can achieve the specific energy consumption (SEC) below 2 kWh/$m^3$. Along with the development of new membranes and high-performance pumps, energy recovery devices (ERD), which recover the hydraulic energy of brine, have been developed to enhance energy efficiency. In this work, we reviewed general aspects of ERD technologies and their market trends. The advantages and disadvantages of various EDR technologies were compared to explore the future directions of ERD development.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.142-151
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• 1994

Counter-current type reverse osmosis spiral wound module was manufactured for the separation and concentration of salf solution. The ratio of permeate volumetric flow rate vs. brine volumetric flow rate was effective parameter between rejection and degree of cocentration. The reflection coefficient was correspondent to the relation between rejection and degree of cocentration by Spiegler-Kedem model. Counter-current reverse osmosis process had more osmotic pressure drop effect and more degree of concentration than general reverse osmosis process. As a result of computer calculation, the extension of module length than module diameter was more effective for the increase of degree of concentration.

• Transactions of the KSME C: Technology and Education
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2013

In the present study, sea water reverse osmosis desalination system was composed with an ultra-filtration membrane as a pre-treatment. Sea water was induced into the pre-treatment composed with an auto-screen filter and an ultra-filtration membrane. It was proved that the permeate of the pre-treatment was adequate for reverse osmosis desalination system by measuring the $SDI_{15}$ and the turbidity. Feed salinities was changed by mixing the brine and the permeate. Inlet salinities effected the performances of sea water reverse osmosis desalination system in a large amount such as the salt rejection, the recovery ratio, the pressure, the product salinity. Energy consumptions per the ton of the product were almost linearly increased with the inlet salinities.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.303-310
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• 2017

Pressure retarded osmosis(PRO) has attracted much attention as potential technology to reduce the overall energy consumption for reverse osmosis(RO) desalination. The RO/PRO hybrid process is considered as the most logical next step for future desalination. The PRO process aims to harness the osmotic energy difference of two aqueous solutions separated by a semipermeable membrane. By using the concentrated water(RO brine) discharged from existing RO plants, the PRO process can effectively exploit a greater salinity gradient to reduce the energy cost of processing concentrated water. However, in order to use RO brine as the draw solution, PRO membrane must have high water flux and enough mechanical strength to withstand the high operational pressure. This study investigates the development of a thin film composite PRO membrane and spiral wound module for high power density. Also, the influence of membrane backing layer on the overall power density was studied using the characteristic factors of PRO membranes. Finally, the performance test of an 8-inch spiral wound module was carried out under various operating conditions(i.e. hydraulic pressure, flow rate, temperature). As the flow rate and temperature increased under the same hydraulic pressure, the PRO performance increased due to the growth of water permeability coefficient and osmotic pressure. For a high performance PRO system, in order to optimize the operating conditions, it is highly recommended that the flow pressure be minimized while the flow rate is maintained at a high level.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.513-518
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• 2015

Salinity gradient power (SGP) has attracted significant attention because of its high potential. In this study, we evaluate reverse electrodialysis (RED) with various compositions of available resources. The polarization curve (I-V characteristics) shows linear behavior, and therefore the power density curve has a parabolic shape. We measure the power density with varying compartment thicknesses and inlet flow rates. The gross power density increases with decreasing compartment thickness and increasing flow rate. The net power density, which is the gross power density minus the pumping power, has a maximum value at a compartment thickness of 0.2 mm and an inlet flow rate of 22.5 mL/min. The power density in RED is also evaluated with compositions of desalination brines, seawater, river water, wastewater, and brackish water. A maximum power density of $1.75W/m^2$ is obtained when brine discharged from forward osmosis (FO) and river water are used as the concentrated and the diluted solutions, respectively.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2013

Water is an integral part of energy production because it is used directly in many power generation systems such as hydroelectric power plants and thermoelectric power plants. Water is also used extensively in energy-resource extraction, oil, natural gas, and alternative fuels refining and processing. Recently, osmotic power systems using seawater and freshwater has been also investigated to produce electricity in a sustainable way. This study focused on the use of RO and PRO for the mutual conversion of water and energy. This system allows the production of water from seawater if there is not enough water. It can also generate electricity from salinity gradient of brine water and fresh water if there is not enough energy. To demonstrate the feasibility of this technology, a set of laboratory-scale experiments were carried out using a specially-designed RO/PRO system. The efficiency of energy conversion was theoretically estimated based on the results from the experiments. The results indicated that water and energy could be easily converted using a single device. Nevertheless, a lack of optimum membrane for this purpose was identified as a major barrier for practical application.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.87-93
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• 2023

Electrodialysis (ED) is essential in separating ions through an ion exchange membrane. The disposal of brine generated from seawater desalination is a primary environmental concern, and its recycling through membrane separation technology is highly efficient. Alkali is produced by several chemical industries such as leather, electroplating, dyeing, and smelting, etc. A high concentration of alkali in the waste needs treatment before releasing into the environment as it is highly corrosive and has a chemical oxygen demand (COD) value. The concentration of calcium and magnesium is almost double in brine and is the perfect candidate for carbon dioxide adsorption, a major environmental pollutant. Sodium hydroxide is essential for the metal carbonation process which, is easily produced by the bipolar membrane electrodialysis process. Various strategies are available for its recovery, like reverse osmosis (RO), nanofiltration (NF), ultrafiltration (UF), and ED. This review discusses the ED process by ion exchange membrane for alkali recovery are discussed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.401-408
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• 2016

Desalination is getting more attention as an alternative to solve a global water shortage problem in the future. Especially, a desalination technology is being expected as a new growth engine of Korea's overseas plant business besides one of the solutions of domestic water shortage problem. In the past, a thermal evaporation technology was a predominant method in desalination market, but more than 75% of the current market is hold by a membrane-based reverse osmosis technology because of its lower energy consumption rate for desalination. In the future, it is expected to have more energy efficient desalination process. Accordingly, various processes are being developed to further enhance the desalination energy efficiency. One of the promising technologies is a desalination process combined with Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO) process. The PRO technology is able to generate energy by using osmotic pressure of seawater or desalination brine. And the other benefits are that it has no emission of $CO_2$ and the limited impact of external environmental factors. However, it is not commercialized yet because a high-performance PRO membrane and module, and a PRO system optimization technology is not sufficiently developed. In this paper, the recent research direction and progress of the SWRO-PRO hybrid desalination was discussed regarding a PRO membrane and module, an energy recovery system, pre-treatment and system optimization technologies, and so on.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2020

This study was aimed to examine inorganic fouling and fouling reduction method in direct contact membrane distillation(DCMD) process. Synthetic seawater of NaCl solution with CaCO₃ and CaSO₄ was used for this purpose. It was found in this study that both CaCO₃ and CaSO₄ precipitates formed at the membrane surface. More fouling was observed with CaSO₄(anhydrite) and CaSO₄·0.5H₂O(bassanite) than CaSO₄·2H₂O(gypsum). CaCO₃ and gypsum were detected at the membrane surface when concentrates of SWRO(seawater reverse osmosis) were treated by the DCMD process, while gypsum was found with MED(multi effect distillation) concentrates. Air backwash(inside to out) was found more effective in fouling reduction than air scouring.