Operation modeling and comparison of actual multi-effect distillation and reverse osmosis desalination plants

Mapping of a Novel Zero-Liquid Discharge Desalination System Based on Humidification–Dehumidification onto the Field of Existing Desalination Technologies

“…This translates to a high gain ratio that may not be an accurate metric of thermal performance as it is with other thermal desalination systems driven by a single energy input. This is a considerable difference from other thermal desalination systems, such as conventional HDH and MED, in which the heat required for desalination is completely supplied externally or partially supplemented by recirculated product steam in the case of energy recovery devices [46]. Instead, the proposed STEWARD system offsets the evaporation load to the compressor, which uses air to provide energy for increasing the surface area of evaporation of the water through atomization, absorbing moisture, and transferring heat through psychrometric processes.…”

“…Obtaining an estimate of the number of units in parallel operation and the associated energy intensities, nonetheless, can help establish operational bounds that could guide further design iterations. Table 4 shows the operational costs assuming the implementation of enough STEWARD units in parallel to fulfill existing plant production requirements or process their corresponding brine product [46]. Increasing feed salinity, on the other hand, indirectly increases feed water, as removing salt from higher concentrations results in less available water product.…”

“…Obtaining an estimate of the number of units in parallel operation and the associated energy intensities, nonetheless, can help establish operational bounds that could guide further design iterations. Table 4 shows the operational costs assuming the implementation of enough STEWARD units in parallel to fulfill existing plant production requirements or process their corresponding brine product [46]. The high number of STEWARD units required to fulfill production rates and elevated energy intensity suggest that the proposed system may not replace existing desalination facilities but rather be a good supplement for brine processing.…”