As the world population increases, so too does the need for safe, potable water. With this comes a surge in demand for desalination plants. These facilities remove salt and other impurities from water, making it suitable for residential and industrial use.
Corzan CPVC has many advantages that make it suitable for this demanding industry including:
- Resistant to corrosion and chemical leaching
- Durable and rigid
- Lightweight and easy to install
- Resistant to UV (no need for paint protection)
- Environmentally friendly with a long service life
Durability and rigidity of Corzan CPVC vs alternative materials
Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of using Corzan® CPVC in desalination plants.
What is a Desalination Plant?
Desalination is a crucial part of water management in coastal regions and has become essential to the provision of freshwater around the world. All desalination plants share the same purpose, to remove salt from water and make it usable for human consumption or agriculture.
The Desalination Process
Water from the ocean undergoes a variety of filtration processes to remove sand, algae and other large particles, from dirt to potentially harmful pathogens.
Water is then pumped through membranes at extremely high pressures of around 1000 PSI. This is essential for reverse osmosis to be successful, in which the salt content in the water supply is unable to pass through, resulting in fresh water.
Pressure rating of Corzan CPVC vs alternative materials
Post treatment, such as chlorination and disinfection are often chemically intensive processes that enable water to be transported and distributed through plumbing systems safely.
Pros and Cons of Desalination Plants
Although it is a well-established process, providing fresh water for people and communities worldwide, desalination plants are not without hazards, as the water treatment process demands a lot from its processing materials.
Desalination Plant Dangers
Corrosion and Scaling
Many pipe materials are under threat from highly saline sea water, as well as calcium and magnesium, which can create scaling. Chlorine, as used in post treatment, is also known to corrode many metallic and non-metallic materials.
Leaching
Some pipe materials are susceptible to chemical leaching, contaminating the water supply and threatening the safety of its users. This is particularly prevalent in high pressure water distribution environments.
Temperature and Pressure
Both the internal and external conditions in desalination plants, not to mention the reverse osmosis process itself create major fluctuations in temperature and pressure, a lot of which can permanently threaten the integrity of most non-metallic and some metallic piping systems.
UV and Weatherability
Exposure to harsh outdoor conditions is common, particularly in coastal environments where desalination occurs. Many plastics erode under exposure to UV, reducing its capacity to cope with intense pressure and temperatures.
The effects of direct sunlight on Corzan CPVC
Why Corzan CPVC for Desalination?
Corzan CPVC has emerged as a preferred material for desalination systems due to its many advantages over alternative materials.
- Reduced weight and size requirements over metal
- Easier and less expensive assembly
- Resistance to corrosion
- UV resistance
- Outstanding thermal insulation
- Long life expectancy
The Modern Choice of Desalination Plants
The desalination industry is under pressure to provide an essential service for the world’s population. In order to meet this demand, plants need to be smarter in terms of how they are constructed and operated. Using materials that can cope with the hazards and pressures of this essential service is critical for future success.
Thanks to its many benefits, CPVC is quickly becoming the material of choice for desalination systems around the world. Talk to a Corzan CPVC representative about your water treatment requirements.