Marine Innovation: Veolia and Danfoss Enhance Offshore Desalination

An Impactful Partnership for Desalination on Oil Platforms in Brazil

Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, a global giant in sanitation and water treatment, has intensified its operations in the offshore segment in Brazil. The latest move in this direction was the signing of a new contract for the delivery and operation of Mobile Treatment Units (MTUs) for desalination of water through reverse osmosis on oil platforms located in the Campos (RJ), Santos (SP), and Espírito Santo (ES) Basins. Just like in the first contract signed five years ago, Veolia opted for high-pressure pumps from Danfoss to equip the MTUs, also known as skids, installed on the platforms.

Innovative Desalination Technology

The skids have the vital function of removing mineral salts from water, making it potable. This process, known as desalination by reverse osmosis, uses pressure to filter water through a series of membranes that remove salt. The MTU is composed of various components and equipment, with high-pressure pumps being one of the most crucial for the desalination technology.

“I compare the pumps to vital organs, as they provide the necessary energy for the process of retaining salt in the water. It is crucial that the pumps operate without failures and with long intervals between maintenance, since the equipment operates 24 hours a day. Danfoss pumps meet these requirements,” highlights Alan Oliveira, Contract Manager at Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions.

Significant Increase in Desalination Capacity

In the previous contract, which ended in August 2022, Veolia provided and operated 7 MTUs. For the new contract, which started in September 2022, the fleet was increased to 20 skids. The water produced by this process is intended for internal use on the platforms. It is important to emphasize that the MTUs are assembled at Veolia’s facility in Sorocaba (SP).

Given the importance of reliable equipment, the MTUs operate 24 hours a day, 28 days a month, with each capable of producing 30 million liters of water per year.

A critical aspect of this application is the need for equipment that requires little maintenance, as access to offshore platforms is restricted and complex. In this regard, Danfoss pumps offer a significant advantage. “Our axial piston pumps outperform centrifugal pumps, and our internal studies show that APP technology offers efficiency rates of over 90% to achieve the lowest lifecycle costs available,” states Anderson Ferreira, Sales Engineer at Danfoss.

Reliability and Performance

Oliveira from Veolia agrees with Ferreira, stating that Danfoss pumps have never had issues. “A project of this magnitude was custom-designed and demands high reliability and performance equipment. The pump is one of the key components for the success of the application,” he concludes.

Currently in production and assembly phase, Veolia’s MTUs began installation in January 2023. This initiative underscores Veolia and Danfoss’s ongoing commitment to providing reliable and sustainable solutions for offshore desalination.