Question

1. The SA Water desalination plant in Lonsdale was officially opened in 2013 to assist

with fresh water supply during the 2000s drought. As we are no longer drought-

stricken in South Australia, the plant currently operates at 10% of its 300

megalitre/day capacity. The sea water feeding the desalination plant along the coast of

Lonsdale has a salinity value of 35 grams/litre. The brine (salty water) output from

desalination plant is has a salinity of 75 grams/litre. The density of sea water can be

assumed to be 1020kg/m3 and the density of the brine as 1050kg/m3.

a. Determine the mass flow rates of the brine and pure water streams leaving the

desalination plant in kg/hr. [6.125 * 105 kg/hr]

b. If the salinity meter used to determine the salt content in the water is accurate to the

nearest 1g/L and has a precision level of ±5%, determine the uncertainty in the flow

rate of the brine. [Assuming independent ±4.4*104 kg/hr]

Fig: 1