WIND-POWERED MEMBRANE DESALINATION OF BRACKISH WATER

thesis or use of any of the information contained in it must acknowledge this thesis as the source of the quotation or information. This thesis presents a detailed investigation of the technical feasibility, challenges and performance issues associated with the direct-connection of a wind turbine to a membrane (wind-membrane) system for treating brackish water in remote communities. The direct-connection of these two technologies negates the reliance on energy storage in batteries, which are traditionally used, but result in reduced system efficiency and increased life-cycle costs. Furthermore, the lack of knowledge of the safe operating window in which transient operation of membrane systems is beneficial or tolerable can be addressed. The impact of wind speed fluctuations on the performance of the wind-membrane system (using a BW30-4040 membrane and feed waters of 2750 and 5500 mg/L NaCl) showed that the performance deteriorated most under fluctuations at low average wind speeds with high turbulence intensity and long periods of oscillation. Therefore, th