Containerized Seawater Desalination Systems

Containerized seawater desalination systems based on reverse osmosis (RO) technology provide a flexible, rapidly deployable solution for freshwater production in coastal and island locations. Unlike conventional civil-construction desalination plants, containerized systems can be operational within weeks of delivery and relocated as project needs change.

Technology Overview: Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis forces seawater through semi-permeable membranes at high pressure (55–70 bar), rejecting 99.5%+ of dissolved salts, bacteria, and viruses. Modern RO systems achieve energy consumption of 3.0–4.5 kWh per cubic meter of product water — a 60% improvement over systems from 20 years ago, largely due to energy recovery devices (ERDs).

Standard Capacity Range

• 50 m³/day — Single 20ft container, suitable for small communities or construction camps (200–300 people)
• 100 m³/day — Single 40ft container, suitable for medium communities (400–600 people)
• 250 m³/day — Two-container system, suitable for small industrial operations
• 500 m³/day — Three-container system, suitable for mining camps or island resorts
• 1,000 m³/day — Multi-container system, suitable for small municipalities
• Custom sizes up to 10,000 m³/day — Modular expansion possible

Key Technical Specifications

SMT's standard containerized RO systems include:

• Pre-treatment: Multi-media filtration, cartridge filtration (5 micron), chemical dosing (antiscalant, biocide)
• RO Membranes: Dow Filmtec, Toray, or equivalent 8-inch elements
• High-Pressure Pumps: Grundfos or Danfoss, stainless steel 316L construction
• Energy Recovery: Pressure exchanger (iSave or ERI PX) for systems >250 m³/day
• Post-treatment: Remineralization, UV disinfection, chlorination
• Control System: PLC with remote monitoring capability (4G/satellite)
• Power Supply: 380V/50Hz or 440V/60Hz, compatible with diesel generator or grid

Deployment Considerations

Successful deployment of containerized desalination systems requires careful site assessment:

• Seawater quality: TDS, temperature, SDI, and biological content affect system design
• Intake design: Beach well intake preferred for biological control; open intake requires additional pre-treatment
• Brine disposal: Concentrate must be returned to sea at sufficient distance and depth
• Power availability: System power demand ranges from 3–8 kW per m³/day capacity
• Civil works: Concrete pad, perimeter fencing, and chemical storage shed required

SMT Supply Package

SMT provides complete containerized desalination systems from design to commissioning. Our standard package includes: system design based on your water quality analysis, factory acceptance testing (FAT) before shipment, installation supervision, operator training, and 12-month performance warranty.