Originally Posted by
Merman Storm
One thing to consider: For a given amount of fresh water produced, you will get far more 50 g/L brine than 75 g/L brine. Starting with 35 g/L sea water with the goal of making 1 L of fresh water you can
Start with 3.33 L of sea water, extract 1 L of fresh water, leaving 2.33 L of 50 g/L brine
Start with 1.88 L of sea water, extract 1 L of fresh water, leaving 0.88 L of 75 g/L brine.
In the second case, if you mixed the 0.88 L of brine with 1.45 L of sea water, the result would be 2.33 L of 50 g/L brine. In other words, it does not mater which desal method you use, you end up in the same place once mixing with sea water occurs.
Usually, the brine discharge is done through multiple small holes to encourage rapid mixing, in order to get the salt concentration down to a level similar to the natural variability of sea water. In addition, the desalted water eventually makes its way back to the ocean, keeping its salinity level in long term balance.
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