32.jpg)
56.jpg)
SYSTEM FOR WATER AND ENERGY RESOURCE CONTROL IN DESALINATION PLANTS
ES2911242
System for the control of water and energy resource in desalination plants, which includes a storage tank (3) of desalted water; an electricity generation system (14) by renewable sources; an energy storage system by hydraulic pumping formed by two deposits (7, 10) at different heights and a hydraulic turbine (9); Valves (5, 8) and pumps (6, 11, 12) to direct the flow of water to an external system (3); a food system (19); a grid connection system (18) for the electricity supply (Egen2,ET2) t o the grid (20); and a control unit (15) for controlling the flow of water and energy as a function of the water needs (N) of the external system, the power (Pgen) generated by the electricity generation system, the power (PT) generated by the hydraulic turbine (ET) when it is in operation, the purchase prices (PCE) and sale prices (PVE) of the electricity, the sale price (PVH) of the water resource, the electrical consumption (A1,..., An) of the power supply system.
The invention provides a full solution for system control and automation in renewable energy driven desalination plants and can be applied to small and medium scale desalination plants both grid connected or isolated. The main advantages are the optimization of the nexus water-energy to achieve maximum performance and energy usage and can be used as part of a solution to the Water - Energy - Food nexus if applied to agricultural farming and irrigation. Main differential points that provide the patent: There are no similar control systems providing an optimized operation in small scale desalination plants using renewable energy. This type of plants will be key in an increasing water scarcity situation that will worsen in next few years and can be applied for remote locations such as islands and to high-value cultives.