Overview
ARBOK-Trideo is an integrated, three-function system combining ARBOK-VC desalination, mineral/salt recovery, and thermal power generation in a single modular unit. Treats industrial wastewater (brines, process effluent, seawater) simultaneously producing: (1) potable/process water, (2) commercial salts/minerals, (3) thermal/electrical energy. Zero discharge; closed-loop material cycle. Operates autonomously with minimal external energy input. Deployable as standalone unit or integrated into existing industrial facilities.
Applications
Primary use cases: desalination plants (dual water + salt production); oil & gas produced-water treatment; mining wastewater; food processing effluent; combined water/energy infrastructure.
Industries and users: desalination operators, oil & gas, mining, food/beverage, municipalities.
Scale: 100–500 t/day treatment capacity per module.
Operating Principle
Three integrated subsystems: (1) Vacuum evaporation: contaminants/salts separate from water via volatility; (2) Mineral crystallization: concentrated brines condense into dry salts (NaCl, Na₂CO₃, MgCl₂, etc.) for commercial sale; (3) Thermal power recovery: latent heat from evaporation/condensation captured via heat exchanger; drives Rankine cycle or feeds to facility heating/process steam. Result: water (100 %), minerals (5–15 %), energy (15–25 % of input thermal equivalent).
Key Parameters
Input: any brine/saline wastewater (up to 35 % TDS).
Water output: potable-grade; 99.98 % recovery.
Mineral output: 5–15 % dry weight; multiple salt products (NaCl, Na₂CO₃, MgCl₂, CaCl₂, etc.).
Energy output: 15–25 % of input thermal value (as hot water or electrical via turbine).
Energy consumption: 2–3 kWh/t (for evaporation pump/controls only; thermal recovered).
Throughput: 100–500 t/day per unit.
Zero discharge: 100 % water + mineral recovery.
Architecture and Components
Vacuum evaporation chamber; mineral crystallization module; thermal heat exchanger + power recovery (optional turbine/generator); water condensation/polishing; automated controls. Modular; containerized (20–40 ft). Can include optional solar thermal input for additional power.
Advantages
Technical: three products from single input; zero waste; passive thermal recovery; scalable; autonomous.
Economic: revenue from water + salts + energy offsets treatment costs; often cash-positive; typical payback 2–4 years.
Environmental: zero discharge; circular material use; avoided brine disposal environmental damage.
Strategic: converts liability (waste brine) into assets (water, minerals, energy); enables profitable desalination in water-scarce regions.
Integrations
Retrofits to existing desalination plants (replaces brine disposal); integrates with oil & gas facilities (produced-water treatment); pairs with solar thermal for energy boost; modular stacking for scaling.
Deployment & Operation
Steps: wastewater characterization → market assessment for salt products → unit sizing → installation (8–12 weeks) → commissioning → autonomous operation. Revenue monitoring + periodic maintenance.
TRL
TRL 5 — Validated in relevant environment. Integrated pilot operation completed at desalination/industrial facility; all three subsystems verified simultaneously; water quality, salt yield, and energy recovery measured. Ready for commercial deployment with industrial partners.
Market Potential
Global desalination: ~100M m³/day; brine disposal is €50–200/t cost globally. Mineral market (salts, magnesium, lithium) ~€50B annually. Energy market (recovered heat/power). Addressable: €10–20B over 10 years for desalination + industrial brine treatment integration.
Typical Project Economics
CAPEX: €1.5–3M per 200 t/day unit. OPEX: €5–10/t (minimal consumables). Revenue: water €0.5/m³ + salts €50–150/t + energy €30–80/MWh. Annual net benefit: €2–5M per unit. Payback: 2–3 years; strong positive cash flow.
Risk Factors
Salt product off-take markets (must validate local buyers); thermal energy utilization (facility must have thermal load or power market access); market competition from conventional desalination (commodity pricing pressure).
Related Technologies
ARBOK-VC (Vacuum Cracking) · ARBOK-OASIS · ARBOK-CRYSTALLIZER · Mineral Recovery Systems