Blue Energy Extraction Using Salinity Gradients: A Critical Evaluation of Case Studies

Blue Energy Extraction Using Salinity Gradients: A Critical Evaluation of Case Studies presents a collection of case studies on real-world power plants from around the world that involve sustainable energy extraction via salinity gradients. Using real-world examples, the book explains and demonstrates the fundamentals, technologies, processes, and application of salinity gradient energy extraction methods, while also offering practical solutions. The book provides an overview of the fundamentals and technologies of salinity gradient energy, with each chapter analyzing a real-world salinity gradient power plant from a different region of the world. Examples from developed and developing economies on three continents are covered.

For each case study, key aspects of performance are evaluated, and benefits and operational challenges are discussed. Validated mathematical models are also included to improve readers understanding of how to control operating parameters.

Dr. Mihir Kumar Purkait is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India. His current research activities are focused in four distinct areas viz. i) advanced separation technologies, ii) waste to energy, iii) smart materials for various applications, and iv) process intensification. In each of the area, his goal is to synthesis stimuli responsive materials and to develop a more fundamental understanding of the factors governing the performance of the chemical and biochemical processes. He has more than 20 years of experience in academics and research and published more than 300 papers in different reputed journals (Citation: >16,500, h-index = 75, i-10 index = 193). He has 12 patents and completed 43 sponsored and consultancy projects from various funding agencies.

Dr. Mukesh Sharma is currently a Research Fellow at Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), India. He obtained his M.Sc. and PhD in Earth Science and Technology from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India. His research work includes membrane technology and its applications in simultaneous sustainable energy extraction, electrochemistry, wastewater treatment, water treatment, bioelectrochemical process, desalination, waste management, resource recovery, fuel cells and formation of value-added products derived from agricultural wastes and processes intensification. He has published many scientific research and review papers in various reputed international journals. He has authored several book chapters in various publications, including Elsevier, CRC and Springer and patented technologies and its demonstrations on the field of blue energy generations.

Dr. Pranjal Pratim Das is a Technical Associate at the National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India. He has completed his PhD from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India. He received his M. Tech and B. Tech in Food Engineering and Technology from Tezpur (Central) University, Assam, India. His research work is purely dedicated to industrial wastewater treatment via electrochemical and advanced oxidation techniques. He has extensively worked on the application of hybrid ozone-electrocoagulation process to treat heavy metals and cyanide-contaminated effluents from different unit operations of steel industry. He has authored several scientific book publications, research/review articles and book chapters in various reputed international journals on water and wastewater treatment. He has fabricated and demonstrated many lab-scale modules for the green energy generation from sewage wastewaters. He has also worked on the treatment of ground and surface waters and has delivered many pilot plant set-ups to several water treatment facilities across the state of Assam (India) for the supply of safe drinking water

Chang-Tang Chang is a professor at National Ilan University, Taiwan (NIU). He is the chairman of Research and Development Center of Energy and Resource Technology at NIU and was the chairman of International Air and Waste Management Association (2010) in Taiwan section. He is also a professional Environmental Engineer. He has published more than 200 SCI papers, 22 patents, 25 book chapters, handled over 40 R&D projects, and guided 18 PhD and 40 Masters student in the field of environmental materials synthesis, energy generation and wastewater treatment. He is also experienced in both nonconventional energy generation from wastewater and saline water. In this book, Prof. Chang's contribution will be essential for providing the numerous case studies for the treatment of various industrial effluent from Taiwan.