SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 30, 2024 – As the world grapples with an escalating water crisis, the valve industry is emerging as a key player in the fight against water scarcity. By providing essential components and leveraging cutting-edge digital solutions, valve manufacturers are enabling the rapid expansion and optimization of seawater desalination plants, offering a lifeline to communities and industries facing dwindling water resources.
Water Scarcity: A Growing Global Concern
The United Nations reports that over 3.6 billion people experience inadequate water access for at least one month per year, a figure that is projected to worsen as the global population and industrial demand increase. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlights a 1% annual growth in freshwater demand, while climate change exacerbates the situation through prolonged droughts.
Valve Technology: Critical to Desalination Success
Seawater desalination plants offer a viable solution to this crisis, but they rely heavily on valves and actuators to control the complex processes involved in transforming seawater into potable water. "A solid knowledge of the desalination process and a wealth of experience in projects" are essential for valve manufacturers to meet the unique challenges of this demanding environment, explains InterApp, a leading valve manufacturer.
The corrosive nature of seawater and the high pressures involved necessitate the use of specialized materials like super-duplex stainless steels and advanced coatings. InterApp highlights the importance of Halar-coated windows and other high-quality components that can withstand the harsh conditions of desalination plants.
Innovation Drives Efficiency and Reduces Costs
Energy consumption is a major operating cost in desalination plants, particularly those utilizing reverse osmosis (RO) technology. Flowserve, a global provider of flow control solutions, addresses this challenge with complete, integrated flow-control systems designed to be "energy-efficient and scalable."
Flowserve's high-pressure diaphragm pumps and energy recovery devices (ERDs) feature optimized hydraulics and advanced materials, resulting in significant energy savings and reduced operating costs. The company's installation of seven isobaric Flowserve FLEX™ Energy Recovery Devices (ERDs) at the Las Palmas III seawater RO plant in the Canary Islands exemplifies their commitment to efficient and profitable desalination solutions.
Digitalization: The Future of Desalination Optimization
As the industry evolves, so do the demands placed on valve manufacturers. AWS Apparatebau, a specialist in valve technology, observes an increasing need for valves capable of handling higher pressure ranges in certain system areas.Additionally, digitalization is playing a transformative role in optimizing desalination plant performance.
AUMA, a leading actuator manufacturer, emphasizes the benefits of digitalization, stating, "Our actuators are up to any challenge in seawater desalination." Their actuators, renowned for corrosion resistance, precision, and modularity, are utilized in major desalination plants like the Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant in Singapore and the Carlsbad Desalination Plant in California.
A Growing Market with Global Impact
The global market for water desalination equipment is expected to reach USD 17.57 billion by 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.2%. This growth is driven by the escalating water crisis, increasing population and industrial demand, and government initiatives to secure water supplies.
Major investments in desalination infrastructure are underway in regions like the Middle East and North Africa, where water scarcity is particularly acute. Egypt plans to invest USD 2.5 billion in new desalination plants, while Morocco aims to significantly increase its capacity by 2030.
Conclusion
The valve industry is at the forefront of technological advancements that are making seawater desalination a viable and sustainable solution to the global water crisis. By delivering innovative and efficient components, embracing digitalization, and collaborating with stakeholders across the value chain, valve manufacturers are helping to secure a future where clean water is accessible to all.