Title: Exergy analysis for determining the salinity gradient energy potential in solutions of multiple salts

Authors: Yunus Emami; Seyed Mehdi Pesteei; Oscar Andres Alvarez Silva

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, University College of Science and Technology of Urmia, Iran ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran ' Department of Physics and Geosciences, Universidad Del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia

Abstract: This paper applies exergy analysis and the aqueous sodium chloride solution model (ASCSM) to assess salinity gradient energy potential. For the first time, the effects of two additional salts on the potential besides sodium chloride (NaCl), i.e., magnesium chloride (MgCl₂) and magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄) - are investigated, leads to achieving more accurate assessments. The rivers flowing into the hyper-saline Urmia Lake in Iran are used as an exemplary case. MATLAB software is applied to analyse data. This research reveals that 9% of the additional potential is associated with MgCl₂, and MgSO₄.

Keywords: exergy analysis; salinity gradient; renewable energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2023.129796

International Journal of Exergy, 2023 Vol.40 No.3, pp.249 - 262

Received: 25 Feb 2022
Received in revised form: 12 Jul 2022
Accepted: 14 Jul 2022
Published online: 30 Mar 2023 *

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