A hybrid solar desalination process of the multi-effect humidification dehumidification and basin-type unit

This paper presents a hybrid solar desalination process of the multi-effect humidification dehumidification and the basin-type unit. The sketch of the hybrid solar desalination process is given. The solar vacuated tube collector is employed in the desalination system, multi-effect humidification dehumidification desalination (HDD) process is plotted according to pinch technology, and then the water rejected from multi-effect HDD process is reused to desalinate in a basin-type unit further. The gain output ratio (GOR) of this system will rise by 2–3 at least through reusing the rejected water. The research proves that the multi-effect HDD has much room to be improved. A hybrid solar desalination process of the multi-effect humidification dehumidification and the basin-type unit should be noticed.     

Seawater integrated desalination plant without brine discharge and powered by renewable energy systems

Environmental effects are one of the main concerns of massive desalination facilities. To reach the objective of no brine discharge the salt from seawater must be completely separated and obtained as a secondary and valuable product. If no CO₂ emission increase is desired, the power source must be a combination of renewable energy systems (RES). This paper presents an analysis of an integrated desalination scheme consisting of two sequential systems: a multi-effect distillation (MED) plant and a mechanical vapour compression (MVC) system based on evaporator equipment. The energy is obtained by several wind turbines (WT) and a thermal solar collector (TSC) field. Separation of salt and water is achieved in a coupled multi-effect distillation-mechanical vapour compression (MED+MVC) two step process. The MED stage is driven by thermal solar collectors, whereas the energy consuming mechanical compression of the vapour (MVC) is fuelled by wind-powered turbines. Interestingly, the final products of this process are dry salt and fresh water. Such a system has been designed and dimensioned for a throughput of 100 m³/h of desalted water A preliminary study of the investment, amortization and exploitation costs of a combined MED+MVC+WT+TSC installation with these dimensions has been done. The price of desalted water, after considering the profits due to the sale of salt and electricity has been estimated at 0.59 ?/m³. If the initial investment has a 35% subsidy, a final price of 0.41 ?/m³ could be ensured, which is near the price associated to conventional energy sources. An outline of the solar collector system and the technical requirements of the wind turbines in needed to meet the energy demand of the MED+MVC system are also included.     

Solar desalination with a humidification-dehumidification technique — a comprehensive technical review

Major desalination processes consume a large amount of energy derived from oil and natural gas as heat and electricity. Solar desalination, although researched for over two decades, has only recently emerged as a promising renewable energy-powered technology for producing fresh water. Solar desalination based on the humidification-dehumidification cycle presents the best method of solar desalination due to overall high-energy efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive technical review of solar desalination with a multi-effect cycle providing a better understanding of the process. Discussion on methods to improve system performance and efficiency paves the way towards possible commercialisation of such units in the future.     

小型风光互补反渗透海水淡化装置研制

介绍了风光互补供电海水淡化装置原理和研制的离网风光互补反渗透海水淡化装置,运行结果表明,该淡化装置吨水能耗约4.8 kWh/m3,适于偏远海岛、船舶、电力供应缺乏的场所,为3～5人的小集体提供生活淡水,具有较强应用推广前景,经济、环境和社会效益明显。     

Comparison of solar thermal technologies for applications in seawater desalination

This paper deals with a global analysis of the use of solar energy in seawater distillation under Spanish climatic conditions. Static solar technologies as well as one-axis sun tracking were compared. Different temperature ranges of the thermal energy supply required for a desalination process were considered. At each temperature range, suitable solar collectors were compared in some aspects as: (1) fresh water production from a given desalination plant; (2) attainable fresh water production if a heat pump is coupled to the solar desalination system; (3) area of solar collector required for equivalent energy production. Results showed that direct steam generation (DSG) parabolic troughs are a promising technology for solar-assisted seawater desalination.     

Studies of scale formation and optimization of antiscalant dosing in multi-effect thermal desalination units

Scaling of heat transfer surfaces is of great concern for the performance of the thermal desalination process working on seawater, whether it is for multistage flash or multi-effect evaporation. Lot of work has already been carried out for the development of antiscalants for inhibiting/minimizing the scaling. The normal concept of scale formation is due to inverse solubility of hardness salts in the seawater with temperature. Apart from temperature, reasons for scales differ by some factors in case of multi-effect desalination units than that of multi-flash units as experienced in operation of six multi-effect desalination units. As such for taking care of such additional scaling factors, dosing rates of the same antiscalant product is almost double or sometimes even more, in multi-effect evaporators than that in multistage flash units.

The purpose of presentation of this paper is to identify these additional factors responsible for scale formation in multi-effect desalination units, other than temperature, with illustrations wherever possible and case study of optimization of dosing rate of antiscalant in 5 million gallon per day capacity multi-effect thermal desalination unit at one of the thermal desalination plants of Federal Electricity and Water, U.A.E. The paper is concluded with the general suggestions for minimizing scales in multi-effect thermal desalination units.     

30t·d-1低温多效海水淡化装置中试试验

引言缺水问题已经是一个世界性问题,与跨流域调水、蓄水、开采地下水等解决水资源短缺的传统措施相比,海水淡化是一种可持续、长久解决水资源缺乏的方式。我国是一个海洋大国,在11个沿     

太阳能直热式多效蒸馏淡化系统热力分析

本文设计了一种太阳能直热式多效蒸馏淡化系统,它将太阳能直热式系统和多效蒸馏系统相结合来淡化苦成水。文中对这一系统进行产水量和蒸发器的热力分析并进行了模拟计算,结果表明当太阳能直热式系统出水温度达到60℃,系统一天的产水量可达40Kg,当多效蒸馏的效数为4时,淡水的成本在5—7元。在太阳能资源丰富而淡水缺乏的地区,使用太阳能直热式多效蒸馏系统是可行的。     

低温多效海水淡化装置调试问题的分析及处理

介绍了目前世界上工艺中级数最多、单套出力最大的某电厂低温多效技术(MED)海水淡化装置的工艺流程及特点,叙述了系统调试的主要步骤,即蒸汽管道吹扫、控制系统和辅助系统调试、初次注水查漏、真空气密性试验、海水整体循环、启动制水等;试验运行结果表明,4套海水淡化装置的运行指标满足设计要求,性能试验合格,具备商业运行条件。介绍了调试过程中遇到问题进行分析及处理方法,提出了完善系统的建议,认为在我国MED海水淡化工艺运行经验有待不断摸索和积累。     

Energy and exergy analyses of seawater desalination system integrated in a solar heat transformer

Among the numerous options to improve the energy efficiency of desalination plants stands out the absorption heat transformer. A heat transformer is a device, which can deliver heat at a higher temperature than the temperature of the fluid by which it is fed. Solar thermal energy can be used as heat input for single effect heat transformer while the high grade thermal energy delivered by the heat transformer can be used as heat source for water desalination.In this paper, an attempt has been made to study the combination: flat plate solar collectors, a single effect heat transformer and desalination system (distillation process) used to provide a beach house located in Skikda (East of Algeria; Latitude 36.52°N, Longitude 6.57°E) with drinking water. This system produces about 500 l of drinking water per day in July.Mathematical models of the solar flat plate collectors (FPC), absorption heat transformer (AHT) operating with the water/lithium bromide solution and the overall desalination system (WP) were developed to simulate the performance of this combination system. The energy and exergy analyses are carried out for each component of the system. All exergy losses that exist in this solar desalination system are calculated. Energy and exergy efficiencies are estimated.     

First experimental results of a new hybrid solar/gas multi-effect distillation system: the AQUASOL project

From 2002 to 2006, a combined R&D project named AQUASOL has been carried out at the facilities of the Plataforma Solar de Almería (Spain). Main objective of this project has been the development of a hybrid solargas desalination system based on multi-effect distillation process that meets at the same time the requirements of low-cost, high efficiency and zero discharge.

The final AQUASOL plant, implemented at the Plataforma Solar de Almería for its evaluation under real meteorological conditions, is composed of: (i) a 14-cell forward-feed vertically-stacked MED unit, (ii) a 500m2 stationary CPC (compound parabolic concentrator) solar collector field, (iii) a 24 m3 thermal storage system based on water, (iv) a new advanced prototype of double-effect absorption (LiBr-H2O) heat pump, (v) a smoketube gas boiler to guarantee 24-h operation

This paper shows the first experimental results obtained during the test campaign of the project. The performance ratio reached by the distillation plant in different operational modes is evaluated, as well as the issues related with the operation of the subsystems that compose the AQUASOL desalination system.     

Operation experience with solar powered 10 M3 per day MSF-plant in Kuwait and results of upscaling experiments

This paper reports on the progress which was made in the field of solar desalination in order to obtain reliable equipment capable to both operate under the severe requirements associated with the use of solar energy as a variable source of heat and to yield favourable economic conditions in view of larger scale utilisation of the undepletable source of energy for the generation of fresh water.The results of a 2 year experience with a selfregulating solar MSF desalination plant under the extreme environmental conditions in the middle east will be discussed. A new type of a solar selfregulating fluidized bed MSF desalination unit will be presented for the first time. The new development which has been carried to a mass-production-level is the result of the experience gained in this field over the last years.The operation of the Atlantis desalination unit with different types of solar collection systems, in particular the salt gradient solar pond energy collection and storage system, will be discussed from the technical and economical point of view to demonstrate the feasibility of future larger scale solar desalination.     

低温多效压汽蒸馏海水淡化系统热力分析

低温多效压汽蒸馏(LT-METVC)海水淡化是一种很有发展前途的海水淡化方法,文中首先探讨了海水淡化系统中盐水焓、熵、的计算方法,然后对典型LT-METVC流程进行了详细的热力学分析,包括重要参数对系统性能的影响规律和系统的利用。结果表明:驱动蒸汽压力升高,会使造水比增加、效率下降,比传热面积则基本不变;系统效数增加或压缩比降低,都会使系统造水比和效率提高、比传热面积增大。LT-METVC系统的效率很低,在示例中仅为1.3%。提出并初步讨论了进一步改善性能的途径。     

海水淡化系统的性能优化与评价准则

可持续发展要求海水淡化系统不仅具有优良的经济性,还要具有优良的环境性能,目前综合考虑这二方面因素的研究还很少。文中从海水淡化系统的综合性能优化和评价出发,建立了统一性能指标(亦称淡水综合成本),该指标由淡水生产的经济成本和环境成本构成,以其为目标函数优化得到的系统具有最佳能源、经济、环境综合性能。淡水的综合成本、经济成本、环境成本还构成了海水淡化系统的多准则性能评价体系,据此可实现对不同海水淡化方法和装置的更全面、合理的评价。基于前面建立的性能准则,以近年来受到较多关注的低温多效蒸发海水淡化系统为例进行了计算、分析和讨论,研究结果验证了准则的合理性和有效性。     

The Ebeye desalination project — total utilization of diesel waste heat

The Ebeye (Marshall Islands) sea water desalination project produces 300,000 US GPD (1100 m³/day) of pure distilled water utilizing as its prime energy input the waste heat discharged from an adjacent diesel generator station, operating at an average load of 3.2 MW. The only other energy requirement is electric power for process, heat recovery and seawater supply pumping - at about 9.5 KWH/1000 gal. (2.5 KWH/m³).The desalination plant consists of one 12 effect low temperature multi-effect distillation unit, operating at a top brine temperature of 158 degrees F (70 degrees C) with simple polyphosphate feed pretreatment.The diesel generator station consists of two 2.4 MW diesels, with provision for the addition of a third as demand increases.Heat is recovered from the diesel's exhaust gases, jacket cooling water, lube oil and compressed air after coolers.The paper describes the total water and power generating scheme (including the heat recovery system) uts performance and costs.     

Design, simulation and economic analysis of a stand-alone reverse osmosis desalination unit powered by wind turbines and photovoltaics

The fresh water shortage is a significant problem in many areas of the world such as deserts, rural areas, Mediterranean countries and islands. However, renewable energy potential in these areas is usually high using solar and wind energy. A desalination unit powered by renewable energy sources is a promising solution for this problem. This paper presents the design of a stand-alone hybrid wind-PV system to power a seawater reverse osmosis desalination unit, with energy recovery using a simplified spreadsheet model. A daily and monthly simulation and economic analysis were also performed. The calculated fresh water production cost was 5.2 ?/m³, and the realized energy saving was up to 48% when a pressure-exchanger-type energy recovery unit is considered.     

Ocean thermal energy and desalination

In 1881, the French physicist d'Arsonval was the first to suggest the harnessing of the temperature difference between the warm surface layers and cold deep layers of tropical oceans. Since then, several attempts have been made to convert this undepletable supply of thermal potential energy into mechanical energy and, later, into electricity. In recent years, various countries including France have launched thermal energy conversion (OTEC) programmes. Tropical regions with useful temperature differences often lack both conventional energy resources and potable water. In such regions, OTEC plants could be used with advantage for the simultaneous production of power and desalinated seawater.An original seawater distillation scheme using surface water and the cold reject stream from an OTEC cycle is discussed. Power not required for distillation may be exported outside the plant. The combined distillation and OTEC scheme is compared with conventional desalination plant producing both potable water and electricity. The OTEC scheme appears highly flexible and shows considerable economic promise.     

Applicability of flashing desalination technique for small scale needs using a novel integrated system coupled with nanofluid-based solar collector

The present study introduces an attempt for the application of flash desalination technique for small scale needs. An integrated system uses a flashing desalination technique coupled with nano-fluid-based solar collector as a heat source has been made to investigate both the effect of different operating modes and that of the variation of functioning parameters and weather conditions on the fresh water production. The flashing unit is performed by similar construction design technique of commercial multi-stage flashing (MSF) plant. The thermal properties of working fluid in the solar collector have been improved by using different concentrated nano-particles. Cu nano-particle is used in the modeling to determine the proper nano-fluid volume fraction that gives higher fresh water productivity. An economic analysis was conducted, since it affects the final cost of produced water, to determine the cost of fresh water production. Although a system may be technically very efficient, it may not be economical. The effect of different feed water and inlet cooling water temperatures on the system performance was studied. The mathematical model is developed to calculate the productivity of the system under different operating conditions. The proposed system gives a reasonable production of fresh water up to 7.7 l/m²/day under the operation conditions. Based on the cost of energy in Egypt, the estimated cost of the generated potable water was 11.68 US$/m³. The efficiency of the system is measured by the gained output ratio (GOR) with day time. The gained output ratio (GOR) of the system reaches 1.058. The current study showed that the solar water heater collecting area is considered a significant factor for reducing the water production cost. Also, the produced water costs decrease with increasing the collecting area of the solar water heater. The volume fractions of nano-particle in solar collector working fluid have a significant impact on increasing the fresh water production and decreasing cost.