Forward Osmosis The Story So Far

Proven Process & Commercial Reality

2nd Annual Power and Desalination Summit
Riyadh 17-18 March 2013

Bringing new technology to the water industry

Outline
Forward Osmosis The Story So Far
Proven Process & Commercial Reality
Introduction to Modern Water and the FO Process
Process & commercial development from research
project to operational plants
Gibraltar FO
Al Khaluf FO (RO vs FO)
Al Najdah

What next for FO?

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Modern Water - Introduction

Modern Waters mission is:
to source, develop and deploy technology-based solutions
to meet the growing demand for the economic availability of
fresh water and treatment of waste water

Founded 2006 to exploit portfolio of water related technologies

IPO London, June 2007
89 granted patents with 58 applications pending
of which 53 granted patents in 5 main groups relate to membrane processes

Strong R&D links with Universities & Research Organisations

UK, Europe, Australia, Japan, USA

R&D Expenditure in Membrane Processes 500,000/annum

excluding overheads and staff costs

Highly experienced team which has delivered and managed large

scale desalination projects around the world
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Forward Osmosis

Source Water
Osmotic
(Seawater or
Agent
Brackish
(High Osmotic
Water)
Pressure)

P2

P1

Forward Osmosis
(FO)

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P2-P1 >

Reverse Osmosis
(RO)

What use is FO?

Operates at low pressure, typically 0 3 barg

Can concentrate one stream with a lower osmotic
pressure using another of higher osmotic
pressure
Dilute a more concentrated stream with a lower
concentrated stream
Particular advantages with difficult feed waters
Applications:

Desalination (MWG)
Water substitution (MWG)
Thermal desalination feedwater softening (MWG)
Enhanced oil recovery (MWG)
Fracture water (MWG)
Emergency drinks from brackish or sea water
Power generation (MWG)
2
1. Source HTI
2. Source Statkraft

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Forward Osmosis
Draw solution in

Diluted draw solution out

Forward Osmosis
System
Feed water in

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Concentrated feed
water out
6

Forward Osmosis Desalination

Reject from forward
osmosis system

Feedwater

Forward Osmosis System

Diluted
Osmotic Agent

Concentrated
Osmotic Agent

Regeneration Membranes
Product Water
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FO Desalination Process challenges

The selection of the osmotic agent / draw solution, which by
necessity must be non toxic
Maintaining a constant osmotic pressure for the concentrated
osmotic agent
Managing the contamination of the osmotic agent with salts from
the feed solution
Minimising back diffusion of the osmotic agent to the feed solution
A robust forward osmosis membrane that can adequately deal with
flow on both sides
Operating on a continuous and economic basis
Pre-treatment considerations

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Advantages of FO Desalination
Forward Osmosis (FO)

Reverse Osmosis (RO)

Technology Status

Innovative process solution now fully operational & commercially

available . A proven, robust and reliable membrane process. 3 full-scale
plants now operating (Al Khaluf, Oman - the worlds first commercial
FO plant began operation in 2010).
Competitive advantages over RO.

Mature, well established technology (Coalinga, California - the

worlds first commercial RO plant began operation in1965).
Little further improvement likely.

Membrane Fouling

Extremely low inherent fouling - low pressure, diffusion driven

process.
Possibility to consider reduced pre-treatment (site dependent).
FO Membranes are chlorine tolerant allowing effective treatment
for bio-fouling.

High pressure - prone to fouling, hydraulic forces increase fouling

- a key issue.
RO Membranes are not chlorine tolerant.

Energy Consumption

Typically up to 30% less than RO.

The more difficult the feedwater the higher the energy saving.

Typically up to 30% more than FO.

Any degree of fouling, higher than FO.

Operational Costs

Less than RO due to higher availability, less chemical cleaning and

fewer membrane replacements.
Extended membrane life - FO membrane life typically twice that
of the equivalent RO membrane.
Reduced lifetime costs.
Inherently high removal, without the need for post treatment
(less than 1 ppm).

More than FO due to lower availability, higher energy costs,

more chemical cleaning and membrane replacements.

Ease of Operation

Very similar to RO, but with less frequent cleaning and increased
membrane life.

Similar to FO but more frequent cleaning and reduced membrane

life

Capital Cost

Similar capital cost on a like-for-like basis.

Similar capital cost on a like-for-like basis.

Boron Removal

Poor removal and may require additional costly post treatment

system.

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FO Desalination Development
Tender
Award
Competitive
Tendering
Production
Facility
Demonstration
Facility
Laboratory
Work

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

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Demonstration Facility

Located in Gibraltar
Commissioned September 2008
Fabricated in UK and shipped
Housed in a 20 ISO shipping
container
Located adjacent to an existing
SWRO facility

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Demonstration Facility

Challenging location

Open seawater intake

Common pre-treatment with conventional SWRO
plant (SDI15, 3 4)
Product water into public supply 1 May 2009

Independently tested
TDS < 200 mg/l
Boron < 0.6 mg/l

Plant used for development activities

50m inside a damp cave

Output doubled over test period

35m3/d

Automatic operation, 24 hours a day

Membranes never cleaned!
Currently testing new MWFO-4G membranes
(March 2013)
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12

Production Facility

Al Khaluf

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Located in Al Khaluf, Oman

Commissioned November 2009
Fabricated in UK
Housed in a 40 High-cube ISO
shipping container
Design capacity 100m3/d
Shares a common pre-treatment
with a SWRO plant

13

Al Khaluf Project - Summary

Fully operational since November 2009
water into public supply
Common pre-treatment with conventional
plant

Shallow open sea water intake (39,000 mg/l)

Single dual media filter (velocity 16 25 m/h)
SDI5 typically 5 after cartridge filters
(immeasurable elsewhere)

FO System

Cartridge filtration 10 micron nominal

35% - 38% recovery (design 30%)
Antiscalant dosing
Periodic low dose chlorination
Membranes never chemically cleaned in over 30
months

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Al Khaluf Project - Summary

Operating personnel same as RO

MW trained local Omanis to operate Al Khaluf

plant

Product water meets requirements of Omani

Standard No. 8/2006 with post-treatment,
untreated product:

Total dissolved solids < 200 mg/l

Boron 0.6 0.8 mg/l

Visited by WDR in November 2010 and

subsequently given a WDR Technology
Rating of 8.9 the joint highest

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15

Al Khaluf - Normalised Flow

FO Plant
FO Normalised Flow (m3/h)

5.0
4.5
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Jan-2010

Feb-2010

Mar-2010

Apr-2010

May-2010

Jul-2010

Aug-2010

Sep-2010

Oct-2010

Nov-2010

Dec-2010

RO Plant

5.0

Normalised Permeate Flow (m 3/h)

Jun-2010

Membranes Installed
August 2009, 4.2 m 3/h

4.5
4.0

New Membranes Installed

3.5

Cleaning Activity on New Membranes

3.0
2.5
2.0

30% Decline in Output Over Just Five Months

1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Jan-2010

Feb-2010

Mar-2010

Apr-2010

May-2010

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Jun-2010

Jul-2010

Aug-2010

Sep-2010

Oct-2010

Nov-2010

Dec-2010

16

Al Khaluf - Energy Consumption

25 kW
Product 72 m3/d

RO

Feed 288 m3/d

25% Conversion
65 barg
Brine 216 m3/d

Overall energy saving comparison at Al Khaluf = 42% reduction

Note energy consumption and savings are feedwater and site specific

19 kW
2 kW

Product in OA 100 m3/d

FOD

Feed 288 m3/d

47% Conversion
65 barg

Product 100 m3/d

35% Conversion
4 barg
Brine 188 m3/d

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Production Facility Tendered Project

Al Najdah

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Located in Al Najdah, Oman

Commissioned July 2012
Fabricated in Oman
Housed in a 40 High-cube ISO
shipping container
Installed capacity 220m3/d
Shares a common pre-treatment
with a SWRO plant

18

Al Najdah Project - Summary

In June 2011 Modern Water was awarded a
contract to build a 200m3/d (original design
capacity) facility located in the same region as
Al Khaluf
Evaluation based on:

Technical factors
Economic factors (including through life cost)

Fully commercial application of forward

osmosis
Incorporating fabrication in Oman
Project complete

O&M contract started September 2012

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Al Najdah Project
Feedwater

Borehole: TDS 45,000 60,000 mg/l

SDI (15 mins) after filtration: 2 3
Sulphuric acid plus antiscalant
Boron: 7 mg/l
Design recovery: 35%

Product water (pre post-treatment)

TDS: 250 300 mg/l

Boron: 0.6 0.8 mg/l

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Demonstration Facility FO ECS

Kuwait

Sohar

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FO Evaporative Cooling System

(FO ECS) provision of low-cost
make-up water.
Originally located in Sohar,
Oman 2011-2012
Currently being shipped to
Kuwait for new client
Fabricated in UK
Housed in a 20 High-cube ISO
shipping container

21

Conventional Cooling Tower

Evaporation
Drift Loss

Cooling Tower

Heat Exchanger

Make-up

Chiller Plant

Blowdown
Recirculation Pumps

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22

FO Cooling Tower System

Evaporation

Drift Loss

Cooling System
incorporating FO make-up
(cooling water as osmotic agent)

Cooling Tower

Recirculated Osmotic Agent

Heat Exchangers

Concentrated Osmotic
Agent
Blowdown System

Make-up via
forward
osmosis

Manipulated Osmosis System

Seawater or brackish water feed

Reject from manipulated osmosis system

Blowdown

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FO Cooling Tower System

Evaporation

Cooling System
incorporating FO make-up

Drift Loss

(cooling water as osmotic agent)

Cooling Tower

Recirculated Osmotic Agent

Incorporating MW
Blowdown Recovery
System

Heat Exchangers

Concentrated Osmotic
Agent
Blowdown System

Make-up via
forward
osmosis

Manipulated Osmosis System

Seawater or brackish water feed

Reject from manipulated osmosis system

Blowdown

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FO Evaporative Cooling System

Demonstration / test plant housed in 20 container

Extensively tested at Sohar Industrial Port, Oman

Requires a source of raw water (seawater, brackish

water, TSE), drain, power and heat load
Membrane pre-treatment

Multi-media pilot filter columns

Air scour
Backwash

Flocculant dosing
Antiscalant

Packaged cooling tower

Heat exchanger
Membrane Support Systems
Blowdown recovery system

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25

Power Comparison Make up Water

8
RO with ERT

RO no ERT
Manipulated Osmosis

kWh/m3

Manipulated Osmosis (OA recovery)

5
4
3
2
1
0
0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

Feed Water TDS (mg/l)

Assumptions
Temperature 25C
Pre-treatment requirements the same for MO and RO
Pump overall efficiency 70%
Energy recovery efficiency 70%

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Maximum conversion on MO limited to 30% (very conservative)

Conversion for RO, 80% - 41% depending on feed TDS
Tower concentration ratio 5

26

Power and Chemical Comparison

0.6
RO Power Cost
RO Power Cost with ERT

0.5

Cost US$/m3

MO Power & OA Cost

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

Feed TDS (mg/l)

Assumptions
Temperature 25C
Pre-treatment requirements the same for MO and RO
Pump overall efficiency 70%
Energy recovery efficiency 70%
Osmotic agent US$ 75 / tonne

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Maximum conversion on MO limited to 30% (very conservative)

Conversion for RO, 80% - 41% depending on feed TDS
Tower concentration ratio 5
Power US$ 0.075 / kWh

27

Osmotic Agent / Cooling Water (1)

Osmotic agent low cost, readily available
and non toxic
Osmotic agent concentration optimised for
raw water feed to minimise losses and
maximise vapour pressure
Material compatibility real time and coupon
testing

304 ss, 316 ss, Cu alloys little or no metal loss

Carbon steel some metal loss, greatly reduced
by corrosion inhibitor (phosphonates & carboxylic
acid)
Speciality additive work ongoing with chemical
supplier

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Osmotic Agent / Cooling Water (2)

1200
24 h

Biological testing
Legionella killed in osmotic
agent MIC 3.6 bar osmotic
pressure equivalent

Inherent biocide affect

Pseudomonas not inhibited

Extensive laboratory testing

Blowdown system

Loose membrane based

Retains osmotic agent and other
chemical additives
Removes contaminants

1000

Average counts of Lp (CFU/ml n=3)

48 h
72 h

800

600

400

200

0
0

0.2

0.3

0.6

1.1

3.6

14.1

Equivalent Osmotic Pressure (bar)

Nicoll P, Thompson N, Gray V Forward Osmosis Applied to Evaporative Cooling Make-up Water,
Cooling Technology Institute Journal, Volume 33, No. 2, Summer 2012

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29

Blowdown System
Patented system allowing removal of ionic
contaminants and retention of high molecular
weight chemicals
Cooling water chemical additives are partially
recycled

Significant chemical savings

Environmental discharges reduced

Osmotic agent is recycled

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Cooling Water Properties

Generally non corrosive and compatible with heat transfer
surfaces
Vapour pressure dependent on feedwater source

Seawater feed estimate 5% increase in tower area

TSE feed no increase in tower area

Thermal conductivity higher than water

Improved heat transfer

Density dependent on feed water source

Seawater feed density 1,160 kg/m3

TSE feed density 1,020 kg/m3

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Evaporative Cooling FO Advantages

Same platform technology as desalination application an

ideal FO process
Can utilise a wide range of feedwaters
Significantly reduced power consumption compared with
reverse osmosis (88% - 40%, typically 50%)
Reduced CAPEX, compared to RO

Extensive use of low cost plastic materials

Low fouling propensity of forward osmosis process

Cooling water additives are retained by the blowdown
recovery system
Can be retrofitted to existing installations

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What next for FO?

Forward Osmosis
Future Developments

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33

Modern Water What next for FO?

FO Desalination

FO Application Demonstration/Trials

Industrial concentration and/or dilution process applications

Salt concentration applications
Hydro Osmotic Power

FO Process Development

Thermal desalination (MSF) feedwater softening application

Fracture Water application

New FO Application Developments

Increased project scale

Membrane developments MW FO 4th generation membranes
Submerged FO

Membrane developments for other applications outside FO desalination

Development of enhanced osmotic agent/draw solutions

New Markets

China/USA

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Membrane Development
Current FO membrane is third generation
(MWFO3.5)
Fourth generation (MWFO4) with
significant improved permeability,
laboratory tested and prototype testing
commencing March 2013 in Gibraltar
Clear roadmap for further development in
place
Cambridge laboratory facilities include flat
sheet and hollow fibre forward osmosis
test rigs

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35

Future Developments - Submerged FO

Utilises existing membrane bio-rector experience

Removes significant requirements for seawater pretreatment

Chemicals and energy

Applicable to other Modern Water applications

Air sparging etc

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR)

Cooling towers (ECS)

Can be installed on or offshore

Innovative solution

The advantages of forward osmosis are immediately

apparent

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Conclusions
Forward osmosis now a proven technology
at industrial scale with fully commercial
plants now operating
Robust process with proven resistance to
membrane fouling
Highly significant OPEX reductions
compared to RO with similar CAPEX on a
like for like basis
Numerous further potential applications in
development

Significant process improvements still to

come
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37

Find out more at

www.modernwater.co.uk

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Further Reading

Cath T, Childress A, and Elimelech M Forward osmosis: Principles,

applications, and recent developments Journal of Membrane Science, May
2006.
Thompson N & Nicoll P Forward Osmosis Desalination: A Commercial Reality,
Proceedings IDA World Congress, Perth, Western Australia, September 2011.
Nicoll P, Thompson N, Bedford M Manipulated Osmosis Applied To
Evaporative Cooling Make-Up Water Revolutionary Technology, Proceedings
IDA World Congress, Perth, Western Australia, September 2011.
Nicoll P, Forward Osmosis Applied to Desalination and Evaporative Cooling
Make-up Water, International Water Conference, Orlando, USA, November
2011.
Nicoll P, Thompson N, Gray V Forward Osmosis Applied to Evaporative
Cooling Make-up Water, Cooling Technology Institute, February 2012.

Bringing new technology to the water industry

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