THE THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF A SOLAR POND COUPLED LOW TEMPERATURE MULTI STAGE DESALINATION PLANT PART I: THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS

Salt Gradient Solar Ponds (SGSP) have the potential of providing low grade energy with the advantage of an annual thermal energy storage cycle. The development of Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) distillation plants operating below 100°C allows SGSP to be considered as the heat source for these systems.

In this paper, two schemes of matching the SGSP with the MSF distillation plant are presented. The first scheme is based on the assumption that the solar pond is to be used as the sole heat source for the distillation plant (i.e. all the plant's thermal energy requirements are provided by the solar pond). The second scheme considers a hybrid system (solar + fuel), where a 20,000 m² solar pond is linked to an otherwise stand alone, fuel driven desalination plant. Both options are simulated with the same daily product water output of 1000m³/day. The thermal simulation of the MSF desalination process was predicted by using a mathematical model based on stage by stage calculations taking into account the variations in fluid properties and flow conditions. The generated simultaneous equations of the mass and energy balances were combined and arranged in a matrix form and then translated into algorithm to predict process variables such as temperature and flash evaporation rates.     

Design recommendations for solar organic Rankine cycle (ORC)-powered reverse osmosis (RO) desalination

This paper deals with the design recommendations for solar reverse osmosis (RO) desalination based on solar organic Rankine cycles (SORC). This technology can be the most energy-efficient technology for seawater and brackish water desalination within the small to medium power output range (up to 500 kW) of the power cycle if the system is properly designed. However, theoretical studies, design proposals and experimental works are very scarce and only very few solar reverse osmosis systems driven by ORC has been either implemented or analysed in the past. In this paper, those systems are outlined and general design recommendations from previous detailed analysis already publish are given for future RO desalination system to be designed based on SORC. Useful information is given about the selection of the working fluid and boundary conditions of the ORC, operation temperature and configuration of the solar field, suited solar collector and thermal energy storage technology, etc. Recommendations are exemplified with well selected numerical cases based on recommended working fluids and solar cycle configuration with proper values of design point parameters. Recommendations given in this paper could be helpful in future initiatives regarding the research and development of this promising solar desalination technology.     

Assessment of different configurations for combined parabolic-trough (PT) solar power and desalination plants in arid regions

The combination of desalination technology into concentrating solar power (CSP) plants needs to be considered for the planned installation of CSP plants in arid regions. There are interesting synergies between the two technologies, like the possibility of substituting the condenser of the power cycle for a thermal desalination unit. This paper presents a thermodynamic evaluation of different configurations for coupling parabolic-trough (PT) solar power plants and desalination facilities in a dry location representing the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The integration of a low-temperature multi-effect distillation (LT-MED) plant fed by the steam at the outlet of the turbine replacing the condenser of the power cycle has been simulated and compared with the combination of CSP with a reverse osmosis (RO) plant. Furthermore, an additional novel concept of concentrating solar power and desalination (CSP+D) has been evaluated: a LT-MED powered by the steam obtained from a thermal vapour compressor (TVC) using the exhaust steam of the CSP plant as entrained vapour and steam extracted from the turbine as the motive vapour of the ejector. This new concept (LT-MED-TVC) has been analyzed and compared with the others, evaluating its optimization for the integration into a CSP plant by considering different extractions of the turbine.     

Impact of solar energy cost on water production cost of seawater desalination plants in Egypt

Many countries in North Africa and the Middle East are experiencing localized water shortages and are now using desalination technologies with either reverse osmosis (RO) or thermal desalination to overcome part of this shortage. Desalination is performed using electricity, mostly generated from fossil fuels with associated greenhouse gas emissions. Increased fuel prices and concern over climate change are causing a push to shift to alternative sources of energy, such as solar energy, since solar radiation is abundant in this region all year round.     

Potential for economic solar desalination in the Middle East

Fresh water forms only about 1% of the total water available on earth. Technologies for the desalination of seawater have considerably matured in the last decade. However, the energy required for the desalination is usually expensive in arid areas where fresh water is required. Renewable energy provides a clean, free, and low-maintenance source of energy for desalination, limited only by their initial cost, and the variability of the available energy. In this paper the potential use of solar energy for the desalination of seawater in the Middle East is evaluated. Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) desalination requires large amounts of energy, while Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination is more energy efficient. Solar distillation is a very simple and direct method that may be used, requiring only large flat areas of land, having no running energy costs and being very suitable for remote areas. Photovoltaics is another promising renewable energy source for seawater desalination in the Middle East. It is best suited for the RO and Electrodialysis (ED) methods. The desalination plant doesn't need to run continuously, and therefore no storage batteries are required. Diesel and / or natural gas may be used as a backup energy.     

THE THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF A SOLAR POND COUPLED LOW TEMPERATURE MULTI STAGE DESALINATION PLANT PART II: ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

This paper presents the thermal performance and economic feasibility of matching the SGSP with the MSF destilation plant with a daily product water output of 1000 m³/day. The analysis are based on the assumption that the solar pond is to be used as the sole heal source (thermal energy) for the distillation plant. The thermal simulation of the MSF desalination process was predicted by using a mathematical model based on stage by stage calculations taking into account the variations in fluid properties and flow conditions. The generated simultaneous equations of the mass and energy balances were combined and arranged in a matrix form and then translated into algorithm to predict process variables such as temperature and flash evaporation rates.

The paper discusses optimisation of the size of the pond and the number of stages for three different storage zone temperatures taking into account the large variation in quantity of energy supplied by the pond between summer and winter. One result is that oversizing the pond, leading to some rejection of the heat collected during the summer (which is referred to as peak clipping), will result in a higher utilisation factor of the desalination plant and a reduction in the summer/winter yield ratio. Optimum peak clipping days, leading to the minimum product water cost, for each storage zone temperature and performance ratio is presented.

The sensitivity analysis of the various factors affecting the overall water costs show that the capital costs comprise about two thirds (2/3) of the total desalinated water costs. This demonstrates and re-emphasises the inherent and basic fact that solar desalination is a capital intensive enterprise. Each 1% increase in interest rate increases solar pond thermal energy costs by about 13–15% and desalinated water costs from SP/MSF combination by about 10–13%.     

海水淡化与火力发电厂现状

针对国内水资源的日益匮乏的现状,结合火力发电厂能源的回收利用,在传统的海水淡化技术系统基础上提出了蒸馏法和反渗透膜法相结合的海水淡化系统——MSF-RO联合海水淡化系统。通过与传统单一海水淡化技术相比较,指出联合海水淡化系统经济性和优越性,并对今后海水淡化核心和发展方向做出展望。     

Solar electric powered reverse osmosis water desalination system for the rural village,Al Maleh: design and simulation

Desalination of brackish water by using reverse osmosis (RO) system powered by solar PV has not been tried and examined in Palestine until now. This paper proposes rural village Al Maleh for erection and testing of the first PV-powered RO system. Al Maleh is highly qualified for testing of such systems since it has a lot of mineral hot water springs of about 3400?ppm salinity. Based on the climate conditions in Al Maleh, the paper presents the design of the PV-powered RO water desalination system. The obtained design results can be used for an economic feasibility study of this technology [Mahmoud, M. Techno-economic feasibility of PV-powered water desalination in Palestine. Special Case: Al Maleh Village (to be published).]. The performance of the designed system is investigated by software simulation. The obtained results show that a daily production of 1?m³ from the brackish water in Al Maleh would require about 820 peak watt of PV generator.     

Modeling analysis on solar steam generator employed in multi-effect distillation (MED) system

Recently the porous bilayer wood solar collectors have drawn increasing attention because of their potential application in solar desalination. In this paper, a thermodynamic model has been developed to analyze the performance of the wood solar collector. A modeling analysis has also been conducted to assess the performance and operating conditions of the multiple effect desalination (MED) system integrated with the porous wood solar collector. Specifically, the effects of operating parameters, such as the motive steam temperature, seawater flow rate, input solar energy and number of effects on the energy consumption for each ton of distilled water produced have been investigated in the MED desalination system combined with the bilayer wood solar steam generator. It is found that, under a given operating condition, there exists an optimum steam generation temperature of around 145°C in the wood solar collector, so that the specific power consumption in the MED system reaches a minimum value of 24.88 kWh/t. The average temperature difference is significantly affected by the solar heating capacity. With the solar capacity increasing from 50 kW to 230 kW, the average temperature difference increases from 1.88°C to 6.27°C. This parametric simulation study will help the design of efficient bilayer wood solar steam generator as well as the MED desalination system.     

On site experimental evaluation of a low-temperature solar organic Rankine cycle system for RO desalination

The paper presents the on site experimental evaluation of the performance of a low-temperature solar organic Rankine cycle system (SORC) for reverse osmosis (RO) desalination. This work is a research step forward to the experimental evaluation of the SORC under laboratory conditions, where the system was tested using an electric brake as load and an electric thermal heater as heat supply. The difference is that solar collectors have been applied as heat supply and there has been a realistic investigation of the performance of the system under the conditions implied by solar energy. The thermal energy produced by the solar collectors’ array evaporates the refrigerant HFC-134a in the pre-heater-evaporator surfaces of the Rankine engine. The superheated vapour is then driven to the expander, where the generated mechanical work produced from expansion drives the high-pressure pump of the RO desalination unit. The superheated vapour at the expander’s outlet is directed to the condenser and condensates. Finally, the saturated liquid at the condenser outlet is pressurized by a positive displacement pump and the thermodynamic cycle is repeated. A special energy recovery system of Axial Pistons Pumps (APP) has been integrated into the RO unit to minimise the specific energy consumption. The results prove that the above concept is technically feasible and continuous operation is achieved under the intermittent availability of solar energy. However, considerably low efficiency has been observed, in comparison with the results taken under controlled thermal load. Nevertheless, it becomes apparent that further optimisation work is required to improve the system efficiency. The research work has been done within the framework of COOP-CT-2003-507997 contract, partly financed by EC.     

Solar and wind opportunities for water desalination in the Arab regions

Despite the abundance of renewable energy resources in the Arab region, the use of solar thermal, solar photovoltaics, and wind is still in its technological and economic infancy. Great potential exists, but economic constraints have impeded more rapid growth for many applications. These technologies have certainly advanced technically over the last quarter century to the point where they should now be considered clean-energy alternatives to fossil fuels. For the Arab countries and many other regions of the world, potable water is becoming as critical a commodity as electricity. As renewable energy technologies advance and environmental concerns rise, these technologies are becoming more interesting partners for powering water desalination projects. We evaluate the current potential and viability of solar and wind, emphasizing the strict mandate for accurate, reliable site-specific resource data. Water desalination can be achieved through either thermal energy (using phase-change processes) or electricity (driving membrane processes), and these sources are best matched to the particular desalination technology. Desalination using solar thermal can be accomplished by multistage flash distillation, multi-effect distillation, vapor compression, freeze separation, and solar still methods. Concentrating solar power offers the best match to large-scale plants that require both high-temperature fluids and electricity. Solar and wind electricity can be effective energy sources for reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, and ultra- and nano-filtration. All these water desalination processes have special operational and high energy requirements that put additional requisites on the use of solar and wind to power these applications. We summarize the characteristics of the various desalination technologies. The effective match of solar thermal, solar photovoltaics, and wind to each of these is discussed in detail. An economic analysis is provided that incorporates energy consumption, water production levels, and environmental benefits in its model. Finally, the expected evolution of the renewable technologies over the near- to mid-term is discussed with the implications for desalination applications over these timeframes.     

Life cycle assessment of MSF,MED and RO desalination technologies

In this work, a comparison of the commonly deployed commercial desalination technologies worldwide—multistage flash (MSF), multieffect evaporation and reverse osmosis (RO)—is assessed by applying life cycle analysis (LCA). LCA, a powerful, and internationally accepted tool used to examine environmental cradle-to-grave consequences of making and using products and services, identifies and quantifies energy and material usage and waste discharges. The International Standard Organization (ISO) 14000 impact factors, which are internationally accepted standard indicators for environmental impact assessment, have been evaluated, and different evaluation methods (Centre for Environmental Studies (CML) 2 baseline 2000, Eco-Points 97 and Eco-Indicator 99) have been applied to different scenarios. The assessment includes the entire life cycle of each desalination process, encompassing extraction and processing raw materials, manufacturing, transportation and distribution, plant operation and final reject disposal.     

Proof-of-concept study of an integrated solar desalination system

This paper describes the performance of a directly heated solar desalination system. The design concept is based on using a direct solar energy collection unit, integrated with flash evaporation and low temperature multi-effect distillation (LT-MED) equipment. Key parameters affecting desalination rate include flashing evaporation pressure, first effect distillation pressure and seawater temperature. The experimental results indicate that at flash evaporation pressure of 0.01 MPa, first effect distillation pressure of 0.004 MPa, and the temperature of solar-heated seawater of 78 °C, the system can reach steady state operation in 17 min. At steady state, desalination rate of 0.204 × 10⁻³ m³/min is obtained. On raising temperature from 70 to 78 °C, net increase in desalination rate of 0.165 × 10⁻³ m³/min is achieved. In contrast, the change of first effect distillation pressure only had minimum effect on desalination rate. Experimental results are in agreement with the theoretical analysis. If temperature continues to increase beyond 78 °C, scaling due to precipitation of CaSO₄ takes place. In this study, the techniques that prevent the system from scaling deposits are discussed.     

热泵循环海水淡化系统

对现有的热法海水淡化方法进行了节能评述,并提出一种综合了低温多效蒸馏与压汽蒸馏两种海水淡化方法技术优势的新系统,通过对此系统的设计计算,得出结论：本文提出的利用热泵循环的节能海水淡化系统能耗低,在热法海水淡化系统中最为节能。     

Simulation and thermoeconomic analysis of different configurations of gas turbine (GT)-based dual-purpose power and desalination plants (DPPDP) and hybrid plants (HP)

This paper contains a simulation and a thermoeconomic analysis of several configurations of gas turbine (GT)-based dual-purpose power and desalination plants (DPPDP): Gas turbine with reverse osmosis (GT+RO), combined cycle with reverse osmosis (CC+RO), combined cycle with multi-effect distillation (CC+MED) and two different hybrid plant (HP) arrangements combining CC, MED and RO (CC+MED+RO, CC+MED+RO_bis). The last two configurations only differ from the feed solution to the MED units (raw seawater or brine coming from the RO discharge). A complete thermodynamic simulation at both design and at part load conditions has been made, as well as an exergy and an exergo-economic (thermoeconomic) analysis of each configuration, in order to compare the evolution of the water and electricity cost for different arrangements. The results show that even for a significantly reduced fuel cost (1.42 $/GJ), the CC is much more profitable than a GT operating in open cycle, with electricity cost values of 1.647 and 2.166 c$/kWh, respectively. As was expected, RO is more efficient and profitable than MED desalination processes, the difference in the obtained desalted water cost being significant. In the hybrid configuration with MED fed by the RO brine discharge, a decrease in the equivalent electrical consumption of nearly 2 kWh/m³ was achieved, but even in this case RO was more efficient (14.15 vs. 4.048 kWh/m³). The evolution of electricity cost in each configuration is more similar at part load operation than at full load, but in the case of water cost, RO is once again more profitable and less sensitive to load variations. Costs given in this paper correspond to investment and fuel costs. Further, profitability and operation strategies of HP, i.e., DPPDP combining distillation and membrane processes, are also analyzed. It is shown that HP can be more profitable than RO plants in the case of increasing the water production capacity of existing DPPDP, because the profit margin of HP remains positive within a substantial range for fuel price and investment costs. The operation strategies of HP were also studied in detail (by means of linear optimization) in order to minimize production costs; and it was concluded that electricity cost minimization gives the same result as the minimization of whole production cost; and water cost minimization could give a lower water cost than in the previous cases, but could lead to prohibitive electricity cost.     

Technological aspects of advancement in low-capacity solar thermal desalination units

Drinking water of acceptable quality has become a scarce commodity. The standard high-capacity desalination methods such as multi-stage flash evaporation and multi-effect evaporation, vapour compression and reverse osmosis are reliable in the range of about 100–500,000 m³/day fresh-water productions. However, the wide-scale implementations of these methods face numerous technological, economic and political barriers and these methods are not used in decentralised regions with a poor infrastructure due to their permanent need of qualified maintenance and electricity supply. In this paper, various low-capacity solar thermal desalination systems, with fresh-water output production in the range of 10–150 l/day for the use in rural areas, are reviewed and classified based on five technological aspects such as the development of the technology of the systems, the applicability of high-capacity thermal desalination technologies, the enhancement of solar heat collectors, the hybridisation of thermal desalination technologies and heat recovery processes. Most of the reviewed systems are in the research stage and have not cleared economic feasibility such as the price per cubic metre of water that may stimulate the decision-maker to direct these studies into the actual commercial applications to find a solution to the water scarcity problem in isolated and remote areas. Although many of the developed systems have several novel and valuable features, more efforts are required for further investigating more efficient, economic and applicable solar energy-driven low-capacity desalination systems.     

太阳能烟囱综合利用海水系统的初步研究

针对目前太阳能海水淡化技术和太阳能烟囱发电技术在经济或技术上存在的问题,提出了太阳能烟囱综合利用海水系统,在利用太阳能烟囱进行海水淡化的同时,以制取的淡水进行水力发电。首先以天津汉沽地区的气象数据对综合系统的性能进行了初步估算;其次建立并优化小型实验系统,获取不同冷凝方式的实验结果。通过实验与理论估算结果的对比来分析该综合系统的理论和经济可行性。理论和实验研究结果表明:采用间壁冷凝换热方式,所提出的综合设计方案具有可行性,并同时推动太阳能烟囱技术和海水淡化技术的发展。     

A review of renewable energy technologies integrated with desalination systems

Energy is an essential ingredient of socio-economic development and economic growth. Renewable energy provides a variable and environmental friendly option and national energy security at a time when decreasing global reserves of fossil fuels threatens the long-term sustainability of global economy. The integration of renewable resources in desalination and water purification is becoming increasingly attractive. This is justified by the fact that areas of fresh water shortages have plenty of solar energy and these technologies have low operating and maintenance costs. In this paper an attempt has been made to present a review, in brief, work of the highlights that have been achieved during the recent years worldwide and the state-of-the-art for most important efforts in the field of desalination by renewable energies, with emphasis on technologies and economics. The review also includes water sources, demand, availability of potable water and purification methods. The classification of distillation units has been done on the basis of literature survey till today. A comparative study between different renewable energy technologies powered desalination systems as well as economics have been done. The real problem in these technologies is the optimum economic design and evaluation of the combined plants in order to be economically viable for remote or arid regions. Wind energy technology is cheaper than the conventional ones, and used extensively around the world. The slow implementation of renewable energy projects especially in the developing countries are mostly due to the governments subsides of conventional fuels products and electricity. The economic analyses carried out so far have not been able to provide a strong basis for comparing economic viability of each desalination technology. The economic performances expressed in terms of cost of water production have been based on different system capacity, system energy source, system component, and water source. These differences make it difficult, if not impossible, to assess the economic performance of a particular technology and compare it with others. Reverse osmosis is becoming the technology of choice with continued advances being made to reduce the total energy consumption and lower the cost of water produced.     

A novel integrated solar desalination system with multi-stage evaporation/heat recovery processes

A novel small-sized integrated solar desalination system with multi-stage evaporation/heat recovery processes is designed and tested in this study. The system consists of four linked collecting units and operates under barotropic and atmospheric pressure. Each of the four units contains a seawater tank and at least one solar collecting/desalination panel mainly comprising a simplified CPC (Compound Parabolic Concentrator) and an all-glass evacuated tube collector. In the last three units, heat exchangers made of copper tubes are inserted concentrically into the all-glass evacuated tubes to recover heat. In each unit, an independent desalination process including solar collecting, heat recovery (no heat recovered in the first unit) and seawater evaporation can be carried out completely. The experimental results show that the freshwater field of the designed system can reach as high as 1.25 kg/(h m²) in the autumn and the system total efficiency is close to 0.9. Both experimental results provide a striking demonstration that the designed solar desalination system has outstanding performance in solar collecting, heat recovery and seawater evaporation.     

New method to store heat energy in horizontal solar desalination still

A new approach is proposed to store excess heat energy in horizontal solar desalination stills during daytime for the continuation of the process at night. This technique divides the horizontal still into evaporating and heat storing zones and combines the advantages of shallow and deep stills. The performance of heat storing zone was studied over one year and exhaustive data were collected, analyzed and presented. To show the effectiveness of the system, its performance was compared with that of the shallow still. The heat storing capacity of the system during the daytime was found to be an average of 35.7% of the total amount of solar energy entering the system. The efficiency of recovering process, in the form of portable water produced at night, was found to be an average of 47.2% of the total amount of energy stored during the day. Furthermore, this technique does not require any kind of external power for storing and recovering processes.