Abstract
Volume reduction has been suggested as a novel method to tackle the various challenges associated with produced water. The present solution offers an economical and environmentally friendly solution to treat a large bulk of produced water that may overwhelm conventional water treatment methods. The current study provides a review of the various volume reduction technologies including freeze concentration, reverse osmosis, and humidification and dehumidification desalination systems. Focus is concentrated on the general HDH technologies in addition to its integration with refrigeration cycles for conditioned air production, and the power cycles for power generation. The GOR, freshwater yield, and efficiencies of the integrated HDH systems were reviewed. Lastly, innovation in the HDH desalination technology is discussed with emphasis on its incorporation with the MVC process.
Highlights
While an increase in energy demands especially from the oil and gas sectors present several challenges, one of the prominent problems faced is that of produced water (PW) [1].PW is water associated with the extraction of oil and gas and is considered to be one of the largest contributors of generated wastewater
Limited research has been conducted on the potential of the HDH–mechanical vapor compression (MVC) integrated system; the unexplored potential of an HDH–MVC system is highlighted through the advantages provided by a MVC unit integrated with a multieffect desalination (MED) unit
While offering a lower energy consumption compared against conventional desalination methods and a lower equipment corrosion, is often limited in commercial applications of the process due to large separation energy costs
Summary
While an increase in energy demands especially from the oil and gas sectors present several challenges, one of the prominent problems faced is that of produced water (PW) [1]. While the current oil extraction trends provide a 3:1 water to oil produced ratio, the production of PW is expected to increase as the wells age [4,5]. It has been estimated by Burnett [6] that the ratio of water to oil could reach up to a ratio of 10:1 as the well matures. The undeniable advantages provided by the HDH technology have prompted researchers to further their existing knowledge on the system by integrating it with various refrigeration, power, and desalination cycles to increase productivity while optimizing energy consumption
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
