Water Purification & Use Planning and Design
General Requirements:
The ECCS incorporates a closed-loop water transportation system accessing water from a nearby Colorado River irrigation canal flowing from east to west adjacent to the recently constructed tube steel U.S.-Mexico border separation structure.
The ECCS captures solar thermal energy and employs it to distill this irrigation water for power generation. Purified irrigation water is also used in select facilities for high efficiency hydroponics and aquaculture, before being treated and returned back to its source. Once initiated, the water pumping mechanism will be powered by the energy produced by the ECCS in of itself, transporting and distributing a purified water source throughout other facilities within the system in a safe and reliable manner.
Requirements:
Basics
The system will incorporate a series of pumps and pipelines to transport water from the Colorado River irrigation canal to the first station in the system, which is used for evaporative distillation.
The water will be filtered prior to entering the evaporative distillation station, and further treated before being returned to the Colorado River.1
The ECCS will be designed to be as energy efficient as possible, with the pumps and filters powered by the ECTS in of itself.2
The system will be designed to be both cost effective and incorporate the latest technologies in water transportation where feasible.
Materials
The pipelines may be constructed using flexible, high-strength materials, such as PVC and HDPE.; however, welded steel pipe may be the most durable option, and other lower cost materials will be considered.
System materials will be designed to minimize flow transfer restrictions and water loss. Thermally insulated piping will be used as needed, and power efficient pumps will be incorporated throughout the system.
Above ground pipelines will be designed to withstand the effects of corrosion and wear and tear.
Components
The pumps will be designed to ensure a continuous flow of water and should be capable of operating in a variety of conditions.
The system will be modularly designed and easily expandable, allowing for additional facilities to be added as needed.
The system will be equipped with automated valves to regulate the flow of water to the various sub stations. .
Safety and Training
To ensure safety, the system will be regularly inspected and continually monitored for leaks and other issues. (Note: This aspect of facility maintenance is intended to be a “teachable skill” to provide future on and off-site employment.)
The pumps will be equipped with sensors to monitor the water pressure and flow rate as well as a control system to monitor the system as a whole, providing real-time feedback on the water levels, flow rates, and other parameters.
The system will be regularly inspected and maintained by other qualified personnel to ensure its properly functioning.3
The system will also include an automated alarm systems to alert personnel in case of any emergency issues.3
An emergency shutdown system will be incorporated into the system to ensure both the safety of the onsite personnel and the system.
1 This is to ensure that any contaminants introduced by the aquaculture and hydroponics processes are removed, and protect the river and its ecosystem, as well as prevent any health risks associated with drinking or swimming in contaminated water.
2 Running the pumps on solar power reduces the energy costs associated with running the system and helps to reduce the carbon footprint. The test site location in Yuma, AZ, is particularly suited for solar-powered pumps due to its specific climatic conditions.
3 These are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the system. Regular maintenance would help detect any potential issues before they become major problems and can help extend the life of the pumps, while alarm systems could also be used to alert personnel if there is a problem, allowing them to take corrective action as needed.
Pumps
Requirements
Must be designed to handle specific flow rates and pressures as required.
Needs to be constructed using materials that are resistant to corrosion and abrasion, such as stainless steel or other alloys.
Also needs to be designed to be energy-efficient and reliable, with features such as overload protection and automatic shut-off valves included.
Pump Selection:
The best type of pump for this purpose may be a submersible centrifugal pump as they are designed to operate underwater and can handle a wide range of flow rates and pressures. They are also energy-efficient and reliable, making them an ideal choice for this application.
Other types of pumps that may be used for this purpose include positive displacement pumps or diaphragm pumps. Positive displacement pumps are capable of handling high pressures and are commonly used for transferring large volumes of liquid. Diaphragm pumps are ideal for applications where air or gas must be mixed with the liquid, making them suitable for aquaculture and hydroponics applications. As such, these could also be used to move water from the second power-generation station to the aquaculture and aquaponics stations.
Gravity pumps (suggested by Dana Chappell) may also be used for this purpose, although, in my opinion, they are not as efficient or reliable as the other types of pumps mentioned above. Gravity pumps rely on the gravitational force of the water to power the pump, which means they require more flow energy to operate and may not be suitable for applications where high pressures or high flow rates are needed. However, depending on the geography and flow rate requirements, gravity pumping may turn out to be the more efficient option. Further research is required in order to determine the effectiveness of this option.
Posted by:
Bharat Ven, on Saturday, February 25, 2023