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This paper presents the results and methodologies used in the development of a uniquecost model based on existing and/or planned membrane desalination plants. Data hasbeen collected from existing and planned treatment plants and standardized to preparecurves for capital and operating costs. These curves can be used to provide order ofmagnitude cost estimates for Integrated Membrane Desalination Plants. It is expected tobe an extremely useful tool for planners and engineers for evaluating costs for differenttreatment scenarios. Three water sources have been considered for this project includingreclaimed water, surface water and groundwater.The use of real world costs for this model provides a connection to reality with regard tocosts. Competitive bidding in recent years has caused the market prices to bedisconnected from theoretical prices in recent years. Models for similar applications usestandard curves for the other treatment processes, established 30 years ago but formembrane plants they are largely driven by user input and guestimates. The curvespresented in this paper incorporate special membrane cost indices for low pressure and high-pressuremembranes to standardize membrane costs from different sources to provide specificcosts based on market data and not driven by user input. In addition, data gatheredprovides useful information with regard to the trend in historical market costs andimprovement in productivity for membranes. This project was conducted as part of aresearch program initiated by the Desalination Research and Innovation Partnership, anorganization of water purveyors in the Southern California region.The capital cost curves are based on widely used indices like the ENR - ConstructionCost Index, ENR - Skilled Labor Wage Index, Marshall and Swift Equipment Cost Index,Chemical Engineering Plant Indices and on specially developed membrane indices whichcould be used to update the cost curves so that they remain current in the future.Operational costs present a challenge for cost models because of volatile cost componentslike power costs and sometimes, chemical costs. As part of standardization ofoperational cost data obtained from existing and planned treatment plants, a sliding scaleof costs based on user input was found appropriate. This "sliding scale" is based on userinputs for chemical costs and power costs and will generate new curves every time theseinputs are changed to provide "realtime" operational costs for the specific project.Another feature of the model is that it uses a separate curve for power costs as power isthe most volatile component of the total cost and does not scale up similar to the otheroperational cost components. Includes tables, figures.

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Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 06/17/2004 Number of Pages: 16File Size: 1 file , 210 KB