SEAWATERINTAKESFOR

DESALINATIONPLANTS:
DESIGNANDCONSTRUCTION
EloyPita

EloyPita,INCREA,C/Buganvilla6,Portal1,1A
28036Madrid,Spain epita@increa.eu

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International Conference on Desalination, Environment and Marine Outfall Systems.
Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

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International Conference on Desalination, Environment and Marine Outfall Systems.

Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

1.INTRODUCTION

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International Conference on Desalination, Environment and Marine Outfall Systems.

Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

New and bigger

desalination plants

New and bigger water intakes

Good water quality

Low environmental impact
Aims of a water intake

No entrainment of materials
Stability
Little maintenance

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International Conference on Desalination, Environment and Marine Outfall Systems.

Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

2.TYPESOFWATERINTAKES

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International Conference on Desalination, Environment and Marine Outfall Systems.

Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

There are three principal types of water intake:

1. Water intake at the coast: Environmental impact and risks due to

interaction with coastal dynamics. Low energy consumption.
2. Water intake at the bottom of the sea: A structure at the seabed, taking
water with specific features.
3. Wells: Risk of silting fine particles. High energy consumption. Better water
quality.

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International Conference on Desalination, Environment and Marine Outfall Systems.

Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

Main types of water intakes at the bottom of the sea:

Concrete structure
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International Conference on Desalination, Environment and Marine Outfall Systems.

Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

Main types of water intakes at the bottom of the sea:

GRP lantern
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International Conference on Desalination, Environment and Marine Outfall Systems.

Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

Main types of water intakes at the bottom of the sea:

Metallic lantern
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3.DESIGNPARAMETERS

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Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

1. Flux direction: horizontal flux better than vertical (downwards) flux. Upwards flow
could be even better.

Vertical flux
Horizontal flux

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2. Suction velocity: lower velocity means less organisms and material suction

Vertical flux
Horizontal flux

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International Conference on Desalination, Environment and Marine Outfall Systems.

Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

3. Distance seabed - window: higher distance, lower sand suction

Vertical flux
Horizontal flux

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International Conference on Desalination, Environment and Marine Outfall Systems.

Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

4. Window depth: big depth

means:
High quality of water.
Less wave forces.
Less light and,
consequently, less organisms
Horizontal flux
growth.

Vertical flux

No bother to navigation.

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5.- Additives against biofouling

An intake with hipochlorite addition out of

work
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6. Waves at the sea: high waves force against big structures

Vertical flux
Horizontal flux

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International Conference on Desalination, Environment and Marine Outfall Systems.

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7. Geotechnical stability: base dimension and weight to avoid overturning, sliding and
foundation bearing failure

OVERTURNING

SLIDING

BEARING CAPACITY
OF THE FOUNDATION

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Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

4.RECENTEXPERIENCESIN
WATERINTAKES

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DIMENSIONSCOMPARISONOFSOMEPROJECTEDTOWERS(I)

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DIMENSIONSCOMPARISONOFSOMEPROJECTEDTOWERS
(II)

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CAMPODECARTAGENA
SINKINGDEPTH:26,3m
SEABEDELEVATION:25,8m
LOWERINTAKEELEVATION:22,4m
FLOWRATE:4,62m3/s
SUCTIONSPEED:0,20m/s
TOTALHEIGHT:6,15m
OUTERDIAMETER:5,30m
WEIGHTINAIROFTHETOWER:135t

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Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

PLANTOFSKIKDA(ALGERIA)
SINKINGDEPTH:18,5m
SEABEDELEVATION:18,0m
LOWERINTAKEELEVATION:13,0m
FLOWRATE:2,53m3/s
SUCTIONSPEED:0,30m/s
TOTALHEIGHT:6,65m
DIAMETEROFTHECIRCUMSCRIBED
CIRCUNFERENCE:4,74m
WEIGHTINAIROFTHETOWER:80t

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Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

PLANTOFSKIKDA(ARGELIA)

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PLANTOFSKIKDA (ARGELIA)

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PLANTOFCAPDJINET (ALGERIA)

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PLANTOFCAPDJINET (ALGERIA)
SINKINGDEPTH:15,9m
SEABEDELEVATION:15,0m
LOWERINTAKEELEVATION:12,3m
FLOWRATE:2,64m3/s
SUCTIONSPEED:0,29m/s
TOTALHEIGHT:5,60m
DIAMETEROFTHECIRCUMSCRIBED
CIRCUNFERENCE:5,22m
WEIGHTINAIROFTHETOWER:140t

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PLANTOFMOSTAGANEM(ALGERIA)
SINKINGDEPTH:16,50m
SEABEDELEVATION:16,00m
LOWERINTAKEELEVATION:13,00m
FLOWRATE:2,64m3/s
SUCTIONSPEED:0,19m/s
TOTALHEIGHT:5,10m
OUTERDIAMETER:6,20m
WEIGHTINAIROFTHETOWER:180t

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PLANTOFMOSTAGANEM(ALGERIA)

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PLANTOF GUILAS (MURCIA)

SINKINGDEPTH:18,6m
SEABEDELEVATION:17,6m
LOWERINTAKEELEVATION:14,1m
FLOWRATE:7,14m3/s
SUCTIONSPEED:0,30m/s
TOTALHEIGHT:6,50m
OUTSIDEDIAMETER(BODYOFTHE
TOWER):5,30m
WEIGHTINAIROFTHETOWER:160t

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International Conference on Desalination, Environment and Marine Outfall Systems.

Sultan Qaboos University. Muscat, Oman

PLANTOFGUILAS(MURCIA)

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PLANTOFMUTXAMEL(ALICANTESPAIN)
SINKINGDEPTH:12,5m
SEABEDELEVATION:8m
LOWERINTAKEELEVATION:5,7m
FLOWRATE:1,85m3/s
SUCTIONSPEED:0,14m/s
TOTALHEIGHT:8,5m
SIDELENGTH3,65m

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PLANTOFSANTAEULALIA(IBIZA SPAIN)
SINKINGDEPTH:21,7m
SEABEDELEVATION:20m
TOTALHEIGHT:4,85m
SIDELENGTH4m

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PLANTOFNUNGUA(GHANA)
SINKINGDEPTH:10.6m
SEABEDELEVATION:8.8m
LOWERINTAKEELEVATION:5.7m
TOTALHEIGHT:5.1m
SIDELENGTH
(BODYOFTHETOWER):3.1m
FLOWRATE:1.32m3/s
WEIGHTINAIROFTHETOWER:95t

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PLANTOFMANTOVERDE(CHILE)
SINKINGDEPTH:19m
SEABEDELEVATION:18m
TOTALHEIGHT:4.20m
OUTSIDEDIAMETER(BODY
OFTHETOWER):2.0m
FLOWRATE:3.6m3/s
WEIGHTINAIROFTHE
TOWER:20t

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PLANTINTHEMEDITERRANEANSEA(I)
UPPERPART

Insitumass
concretefilling

Insitugranular
materialfilling

CONSTRUCTIONINTWO
PARTS,connectedwithinsitu
massconcretefilling.
SINKINGDEPTH:21.6m
SEABEDELEVATION:14m
TOTALHEIGHT:15.8m
DIAGONALOFOCTOGONAL
BASE:10.2m
FLOWRATE:10.12m3/s
MINIMUMDISTANCE
REQUIREDFROMTHE
NATURALBOTTOMTOTHE
LOWERPARTOFTHEINTAKE
WINDOWS=5m
SUCTIONSPEED<0,15m/s
TOTALWEIGHTINAIRIN
SERVICE(concrete+granular
filling):1320t

LOWERPART
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PLANTINTHEMEDITERRANEANSEA(II)
UPPERPART

LOWERPART

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PLANTINTHEMEDITERRANEANSEA(III):LOWERPART
TOTALHEIGHT:7.6m
DIAGONALOFOCTOGONALBASE:10.2m
TOTALWEIGHTINAIR(only concrete):340t

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PLANTINTHEMEDITERRANEANSEA(IV):LOWERPART

TRANSPORTATIONAND
SINKING:AUXILIARYFLOATS

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PLANTINTHEMEDITERRANEANSEA(V):LOWERPART
TRANSPORTANDSINKING:AUXILIARYFLOATERS

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PLANTINTHEMEDITERRANEANSEA(VI):UPPERPART

TOTALHEIGHT:8.2m
DIAGONALOFOCTOGONALPART:7.5m
HIEGHTOFWINDOWS:3m
DIAMETEROFCYLINDER:3.5m
TOTALWEIGHTINAIR:76t

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WHAT DID WE LEARN ABOUT WATER INTAKE

STRUCTURES AT THE SEABED?
1. MARINE CLIMATE (WAVES) SHOULD BE CAREFULLY ANALYSED.
2. DESIGNS SHOULD BE ADAPTED TO THE AVAILABLE MEANS.
3. BEST MATERIALS: CONCRETE, GRP AND STAINLESS STEEL.
4. THICK ELEMENTS OF CONCRETE HAVE MANY ADVANTAGES:
STRUCTURAL CAPACITY AND LARGER STABILITY.
5. IF USING GRATES, THEY SHOULD BE EASY TO CLEAN OR DISMANTLE.
6. SOMETIMES IT COULD BE USEFULL TO MAKE A CFD STUDY TO ASSESS
FORCES AGAINST THE STRUCTURE AND THUS OPTIMIZE THE DESIGN.

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ADVICES FOR THE PIPE CONNECTING THE INTAKE TO

LAND:
1. JOINTS BETWEEN PIPES SHOULD BE CAREFULLY DESIGNED AND
CONSTRUCTED.
2. PE IS THE MOST APROPRIATE MATERIAL.
3. AT THE SUFZONE, INSTALL IT INSIDE A TRENCH OR A TUNNEL.
4. INSTALL MANHOLES EVERY 300 M (APROX).

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THANKYOUFORYOUR
ATTENTION!
If you need further
information,donot
hesitate to contact us.
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