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Adriano
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Osmotic power is a form of renewable energy under development which exploits the salinity gradient between fresh river water and salt sea water. The phenomenon is based in osmosis principle and called Pressure Retarded Osmosis (PRO). The two fluids are separated by a semi-permeable membrane which allows only water molecules, in the ideal situation, to pass through the membrane, causing osmotic flow capable to rotate a turbine producing electricity.
In a plant using PRO, power production can occur with continuous inflow of fresh water and sea water and continuous discharge of the brackish effluent that resulted from the mixing of the two solutions. The amount of energy produced depends on the availability of fresh water and the salinity of sea water. As a rule of thumb, the continuous flow of 1 m3/s of fresh water when mixed with sea water of salinity 3,5% NaCl yield about 1 MW.
This promising form of energy has not yet exploited on a commercial scale, but after several decades of research on laboratory and the first pilot plant of 4kW launched in 2009 was the reason to investigate the ability of PRO to be regarded as reliable and competitive form of energy compared with other renewable energy. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263039298_Power_production_by_PRO_-_Feasibility_study_of_an_osmotic_power_plant_1_MW
In a plant using PRO, power production can occur with continuous inflow of fresh water and sea water and continuous discharge of the brackish effluent that resulted from the mixing of the two solutions. The amount of energy produced depends on the availability of fresh water and the salinity of sea water. As a rule of thumb, the continuous flow of 1 m3/s of fresh water when mixed with sea water of salinity 3,5% NaCl yield about 1 MW.
This promising form of energy has not yet exploited on a commercial scale, but after several decades of research on laboratory and the first pilot plant of 4kW launched in 2009 was the reason to investigate the ability of PRO to be regarded as reliable and competitive form of energy compared with other renewable energy. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263039298_Power_production_by_PRO_-_Feasibility_study_of_an_osmotic_power_plant_1_MW