Review on modelling and control of desalination system using reverse osmosis

Dissolved salts in seawater or brackish water are reduced to a potable level through separation techniques, like, distillation, multiple effect vapor compression, evaporation, or by membrane processes such as electro-dialysis reversal, nano-filtration, and reverse osmosis (RO). RO is the most widely used desalination process. Recent advances in RO technology has led to more efficient separation and now is the most cost effective process to operate. The performance of the reverse osmosis process is dependent on concentration of dissolved solids in the feed-water, feed-water pressure, and the membrane strength to withstand system pressure, membrane solute rejection, membrane fouling characteristics, and the required permeate solute concentration. RO is a promising tool that uses cellulose acetate (or) polyamide membrane and is widely chosen as the cost of production is reduced by the use of energy efficient and process control techniques. This paper presents a review on modelling, identification of parameters from single input-outputs and multi input/output lumped systems, dynamic modelling and control of desalination systems in the past twenty years by collecting more than 60 literatures.