Diseño de una Planta Desalinizadora para el Municipio de San Bernardo del Viento - Córdoba

Abstract

Water scarcity in Colombia as a result of climate change, along with prolonged droughts that significantly reduce the levels of the Sinú River and the topographic conditions in San Bernardo del Viento – Córdoba, have increased water shortages in both urban and rural communities. To address this problem, the design of a desalination plant is proposed in the municipality of San Bernardo del Viento – Córdoba. Three desalination processes were evaluated: multi-stage flash (MSF), multi-effect distillation, and reverse osmosis. After an analysis using a multi-criteria matrix that considered factors such as water quality, energy efficiency, and costs, reverse osmosis was selected as the most suitable option. The design of the plant is divided into four subsystems: intake, chemical pretreatments, filtration, and desalination through reverse osmosis. A detailed design was carried out for the intake system and the reverse osmosis membrane banks, using IMS designe to model hydraulic behavior and membrane performance. Reverse osmosis emerges as a viable alternative for drinking water production in San Bernardo del Viento and other coastal municipalities in the country. Despite economic and technical challenges, the potential yields justify the investment. To mitigate the environmental impact of brine, controlled disposal is proposed. In addition, mineral recovery will be explored, and continuous monitoring will be implemented to protect coastal ecosystems. A rigorous maintenance plan and an efficient distribution system are required to ensure the success of the project.