Evoqua to partner with PUB for pilot desalination project in Tuas, Singapore

US based Evoqua Water Technologies has teamed up with Singapore’s national water agency, Public Utilities Board (PUB), to develop a new desalination demonstration facility at Tuas in Singapore.

The facility, which will be equipped with Evoqua’s Nexed electrochemical desalination module technology, is expected to have a daily production capacity for 500,000 gallons of desalinated seawater, once commissioned.

The Evoqua solution features advanced low-energy membrane, intelligent flow distribution, and has tunable dissolved solids removal capability, the firm said.

It has been claimed to bring down energy use and operational costs and facility footprint.

Evoqua had launched the Nexed module technology in June this year.

Evoqua Water Technologies CEO Ron Keating said: "Our Nexed system represents a breakthrough in electrochemical desalination and we are extremely pleased the PUB agrees with us that it is the next generation in desalination.

"Through our R&D efforts we have been able to bridge major technology gaps to make low-cost, effective and reliable desalination possible as well as lay the groundwork for even larger breakthroughs to come.

"By overcoming the challenges to make the technology adjustable for the end user, output quality can be manipulated by input power adjustments.

"This tunable feature also allows for options to minimise footprint and provide for optimised energy consumption. We think of this technology as a ‘de-salting engine’ and can be applied to a wide range of uses, including sea and brackish water, variable salinity applications and water re-use options."

The demonstration project has been backed by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) through its TechPioneer piloting programme.

Planning phase for the one million gallon/day (feed) plant is expected to start this month, which will be designed and constructed by Evoqua.

The first 90m3/hr feed flow system has been scheduled for a mid-2016 installation at the facility following which, it will undergo staged increases in its flow rate through 2017.

PUB chief technology officer Harry Seah said: "R&D is vital as we continue to ensure a sustainable water supply for the future.

"With rising energy costs, we are looking into ways to reduce the energy consumed during desalination. This is important as desalination will meet up to 25% of our water needs by 2060."