Potential for PRO in the North of Mexico: Theoretical analysis of the feasibility based in the Area Power Output

Abstract

The global interest in renewable energies to substitute the fossil fuels has led to the development of new technologies and processes to obtain energy. The sources were the energy is obtained from vary, but when the resource is scarce this technologies need a different approach to make the process sustainable. In the cases of those related to water, PRO is an interesting process that could cover both requirements in places like the North of Mexico, were the amount of available water is low and the energy demand high. PRO consists in the controlled mixture of two solutions with a greater salinity were the pressurised high salinity one could be used to produce energy depressurizing it. In this work, the feasibility of implementing PRO technology in the North of Mexico is analysed. The salinities of Panuco, Soto La Marina and Mayo rivers are analysed to determine the points were the requirements for this process are fulfilled. Different reported membranes performances are compared and the best values values are tested using the information from the rivers and a modified formula for calculating water flux and area power output in PRO. The results show that analysed scenarios present a high potential for PRO applications, were under the situations analysed in this work they could reach an area power output over the minimal required to make the process feasible (5 W/m2). However, it is still necessary to design a more suitable PRO plant and a way to obtain fresh water from a shorter distance.