Storing large quantities of fresh water on board ship is costly and takes up valuable space. GEA offers an alternative solution, in the form of a process and technology for sea water desalination, which can be used to generate up to 30 tons of fresh water a day.
The principle of sea water desalination by evaporation
Desalination is based on the principle of evaporation: sea water that has been filtered through a coarse mesh is evaporated in a heat exchanger plate stack that is made of titanium to precipitate out salt and impurities. A further plate stack then condenses the steam into drinking water. A salt measuring cell checks for residual salt content, which should be below four parts per million (ppm). If a value below four ppm can be reliably maintained, then the desalinated water can be passed to a storage tank before further treatment by UV sterilization.
An output of 5-30 tons a day
A re-hardening filter finally returns enough hardness to the fully demineralized water to make it suitable for human use. Whether for the shower room, for the galley or for scrubbing – our systems enable output of between five tons and 30 tons a day, which should easily cover the everyday requirements of container ships, LNG tankers, bulk carriers or freighters.
Products & Technologies
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Hygienic valves & components
Hygienic valves from GEA form the core component of matrix-piped process plants. Thanks to a pioneering valve concept that sets standards for its flexibility, as well as the latest control and automation functions, our valves offer manufacturers maximum product safety and process reliability. All GEA hygienic valves are designed to be efficient a...
Machine automation & control
Every plant or machine, which is designed for a reliable long-term operation, requires a control unit that enables the communication between the different system parts. It is one of the most important component that guarantees reliability and efficient operation.
Water Treatment Systems
Water treatment on the high seas must meet strict economic, technical, and environmental regulations. GEA provides advanced, IMO-compliant systems that protect marine ecosystems while ensuring cost-effective, smooth operations for ship owners and operators.
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GEA Insights
A new recipe for indulgence
What if your favorite chocolate didn’t require cocoa beans and your coffee was locally produced? As climate disruption, price hikes and ethical concerns hit two of our most beloved indulgences, scientists are reimagining how we produce them – using microbes, not monocultures. The goal: preserve the flavor and properties of coffee and chocolate while minimizing carbon emissions and improving food resilience.
Fueling the circular economy in shipping
Ports now compete not just on logistics, but on sustainability. At Greece’s Piraeus port, an advanced processing and recovery facility recycles ship waste oil into fuel. Equipped with GEA’s high-performance centrifuges, it sets a new benchmark for state-of-the-art, environmentally responsible port operations.
Closing the loop: key lessons for breweries from OeTTINGER
The 2022 CO2 shortage forced breweries to review their dependency on global supply chains. Many were forced to close, unable to carbonate their products. At its breweries in Germany, OeTTINGER GETRÄNKE is turning its own CO2 into a powerful lever for independence and sustainability – with the help of CO2 recovery technology from GEA.
