The Challenge
EIA21 participated in the development of the Detailed Engineering for one of Spain’s most important water infrastructure projects: the Barcelona Metropolitan Area Desalination Plant.
The facility was designed to improve the region’s water security and guarantee drinking water supply to a large population through reverse osmosis desalination technology, with a production capacity of 200,000 m³/day.
EIA21’s scope focused on applied mechanical engineering, including pressure vessels, steel structures, piping flexibility analysis, pipe support design, and the preparation of mechanical specifications for project execution.
The development of a large-capacity desalination plant requires a high level of technical specialization to ensure equipment reliability and the mechanical integrity of the facilities.
Key project challenges included:
- Participating in a strategic infrastructure project for the water supply of the Barcelona metropolitan area.
- Designing systems operating under demanding reverse osmosis process conditions.
- Ensuring the mechanical integrity of equipment and piping systems under all operating conditions.
- Coordinating the design of structures, supports, and critical mechanical systems.
- Meeting the quality and reliability standards required by the water treatment industry.
The Solution
EIA21 developed the Mechanical Detailed Engineering for the plant, providing solutions focused on safety, operability, and long-term reliability.
The work included:
- Mechanical Detailed Engineering.
- Design and specification of pressure vessels.
- Definition of auxiliary steel structures.
- Piping flexibility and stress analysis.
- Pipe support design for process and utility systems.
- Preparation of mechanical specifications for fabrication and installation.
- Coordination with the other engineering disciplines involved in the project.
Results
- Successful development of the mechanical engineering for one of Europe’s largest desalination plants.
- Optimization of equipment and piping system design.
- Verification of the mechanical integrity of critical facilities.
- Preparation of technical documentation for construction and commissioning.
- Contribution to the development of a key infrastructure for drinking water supply in Catalonia.
