Dispersion of desalination brine discharges, a technique to protect the marine environment: Case of Fouka plant (Algeria)

Seawater desalination is an essential solution to reduce thirst in the Mediterranean basin and North Africa due to climate change. However, the production of drinking water is accompanied by hyper-saline discharge (brine). The objective of this work is to perform a numerical simulation with the Ansys CFD code to compare the performance of the Venturi diffuser and the current diffuser used in the Fouka desalination plant. The study analyzed different scenarios for the dispersion of discharges in the marine environment. The Venturi diffuser was proposed as a more efficient technique for dispersing brine in the marine environment but required a high outlet velocity (> 5 m/s) to be more effective. The results showed a dilution rate of 74.97% of the current diffuser, compared to 93.14% for the Venturi diffuser at the point of impact (table. 01). Current velocities (0.2, 0.4, 0.8 m/s) were studied in plume development, revealing that a velocity of 0.4 m/s improves dilution and salinity. The study concluded that the Venturi diffuser will be a practical solution for long-term sustainable desalination and prevent socio-environmental conflicts.