Exergy and thermo-economic analysis of solar thermal cycles powered multi-stage flash desalination process

Abstract

A B S T R A C TSolar thermal power cycles assisted multi-stage flash brine recycle (MSF-BR) distillation process are thermo-economically analyzed and evaluated. In this work, the analyses are compared according to three different configurations via two techniques of solar thermal power cycles. The first technique is considered for only desalination process; however, the second is considered for desalination and electric power generation via organic Rankine cycle. Solar parabolic trough concentrator (PTC) field is considered to dominate sufficient thermal power for MSF plant. Water steam working fluid is used for a direct vapor generation (DVG); however, Therminol-VP1 working substance is used for an indirect vapor generation (IDVG) through the PTC field. Moreover, the optimized configuration from the first technique is compared with the power generation and desalination (the second technique). The comparisons are proceeding for the MSF-BR desalination plant with total productivity in the range of 5,000m 3 /d which the gain ratio is increased up to 12 with 40 stages. The thermo-economic results reveal that first technique achieves remarkable results related to the PTC area, the SPC, kWh/m 3 , and the thermo-economic product cost, $/GJ.

Nexus approach to solar technology for energy and water supply for sustainable rural development in Egypt: a review

“…For small-scale water purification on the household or community level, technologies using metallic iron (Fe 0 )-based filtration systems without the need of energy input are being tested. 122,123 In Egypt, various model plants with parabolic trough collectors (PTC) 124 with solar collector areas of 61,680 and 93;050 m 2 were installed in combination with MSF technology for seawater with capacities of 5000 m 3 ∕d. For MED, seawater is delivered to several cells for vaporization and condensation, and a quite low top brine temperature (55°C to 120°C) is needed.…”

“…In comparison, in RO systems, the intake of seawater is only one third of that needed for the same output in MFD systems, thereby reducing energy costs for pumping and disposing the spent brine. 124 In RO, high pressure is used to filtrate saltwater or brackish water against an osmotic pressure through a semipermeable membrane, removing ions, molecules, and larger particles. Small-scale and pilot-scale plants have been investigated since the 1980s, 127 and the World's first Solar PV powered seawater RO plant was built in 1982.…”

Application of solar energy in water treatment processes: A review

“…Schematic diagrams of different solar MSF-BR desalination plants proposed by Mohamed et al[67] Very limited publications on solar MSF plants are available in the past 20 years. Meanwhile, reported solar MSF studies are mostly focused on low capacity plants.…”

“…Meanwhile, reported solar MSF studies are mostly focused on low capacity plants. Only recently, Eldean et al[67] analyzed and evaluated a 5000 m3 /d solar MSF-BR (multi-stage flash brine recycle) system with REDS-SDS software package in Matlab/Simulink environment. Three different configurations (shown in Table 3 & Figure 5) of the solar thermal cycles were proposed to be integrated with the MSF unit: 1) direct vapor generation (DVG) , 2) indirect vapor generation (IDVG) , 3) The combination of MSF unit with solar organic Rankine cycle (SORC) for electricity-water cogeneration (Description see…”

Superhydrophilic and Oleophobic Porous Architectures Based on Basalt Fibers as Oil‐Repellent Photothermal Materials for Solar Steam Generation

“…Water shortages have become as erioust hreatt ot he sustainable developmento fm oderns ociety. [1][2][3][4] Although many cutting-edge technologies, such as microfiltration, [5] ultrafiltration, [6] reverse osmosis, [7] multi-effect distillation, [8] multistage flash, [9] and adsorption, [10] have been employed for desalination, in most cases, the high cost or huge energy consumption required by the aforementioned technologiesm akei tu nsuitable for large-scale application. In comparison, as an emerging technology for fresh water production, solar steam generation has received much more attention,o wing not only to its high evaporation rate but also to using clean and unexhausted solar irradiation as its only energy input.…”