The potential of osmotic power for Turkey

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Mühendislik Fakültesi, İnşaat Mühendisliği Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2017

Öğrenci: AHMET BERKAN KORKMAZ

Danışman: GÜLİZAR ÖZYURT TARAKCIOĞLU

Özet:

Osmotic energy is a renewable source of energy which is obtained from the physical movement of water molecules between semipermeable membrane due to salinity gradient difference. Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is a system which is derived from salinity gradient and uses that osmotic pressure forces to produce energy by the help of turbines at locations such as river mouths where river and sea provides the required salinity gradient. It is a rather new technology which is still in research and development stage. Fresh water from rivers flow into seas surrounding Turkey which have different salinity. The potential of osmotic power at these meeting points of the rivers have not been studied yet. This study assesses the potential of major rivers of Turkey and discusses the utility of the osmotic power. Study areas are selected according to data attainability of salinity gradient, flow rate, temperature of water bodies and membrane water relationships. The yearly change of the parameters needed for production of osmotic power is analysed and potential capacities for PRO facilities are calculated for Turkey. Land area required for membranes for the proposed PRO capacities are also determined and possible locations were selected at the study sites.