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

Juyuan Jiang, He Tian, Mingxian Cui and Lijian Liu

Renewable Energy, 2009, vol. 34, issue 12, 2798-2802

Abstract: 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 0.01MPa, first effect distillation pressure of 0.004MPa, and the temperature of solar-heated seawater of 78°C, the system can reach steady state operation in 17min. At steady state, desalination rate of 0.204×10−3m3/min is obtained. On raising temperature from 70 to 78°C, net increase in desalination rate of 0.165×10−3m3/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.

Keywords: Solar energy; Desalination; Multistage flash desalination; Multi-effects distillation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:34:y:2009:i:12:p:2798-2802

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2009.06.002

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