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Experimental and numerical studies of multi-effect desalination plants without thermal vapor compression

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Abstract

This paper presents a mathematical model that deals with multi-effect desalination plants without thermal vapor compression. It was extensively investigated using data obtained from Zuara desalination plant. It is located 70 km west of Tripoli the capital city of Libya. The developed mathematical model was authenticated by the simulation of the first stage of the mentioned plant, which consists of three units with a capacity of 40,000 m3/d. An extensive comparison between theoretical and real data was carried out. The theoretical results have the same trend as the experimental ones, especially in the early plant operating period. The obtained results show that the plant’s water production and thermal efficiency are sensitive to seawater temperature. According to the theoretical results, high performance is obtained during the winter season due to the possibility of increasing the loading rate without reaching the top brine temperature. The experimental data are obtained during the spring and autumn seasons because the heat loss is not high, and there is no need for additional seawater cooling medium. Both productivity and efficiency are directly proportional to the unit operating load rates. The plant obsolescence resulted in a decrease in the productivity and efficiency by 50 t/h and 8%, respectively. The study concluded that the specific heat area SHTA is directly proportional to the plant load and inversely proportional to the seawater temperature.

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Abbreviations

A:

Heat transfer area m2

GOR:

Gain output ratio

h.:

Stream enthalpy kJ/kg

\(\dot{m}\) :

Stream mass flow rate kg/s

P:

Pressure kPa

S:

Stream salinity percentage ppm

SHTA:

Specific heat transfer area m2/(kg/s)

T:

Temperature °C

B:

Brine

c:

Condensate

d:

Distillate

f. :

Make up water (feed water)

fp:

Preheater feed water

fw:

Cell feed water

i:

Stream inlet

o:

Stream outlet

Pc:

Preheater condensate water outlet

Pv:

Preheater vapor inlet

St:

Steam

Sw:

Seawater

v :

Vapor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sabratah University, Sabratah, Libya

    Ali K. Muftah

  2. Thermal and Energetic Systems Studies Laboratory, National School of Engineers of Monastir, Monastir University, Rue Ibn Jazzar, 5019, Monastir, Tunisia

    Leila Zili-Ghedira & Hacen Dhahri

  3. Research and Consultation Centre, SABU, Sabratah, Libya

    Mabruk M. Abugderah

Authors
  1. Ali K. Muftah
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  2. Leila Zili-Ghedira
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  3. Hacen Dhahri
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  4. Mabruk M. Abugderah
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Correspondence to Ali K. Muftah.

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Muftah, A.K., Zili-Ghedira, L., Dhahri, H. et al. Experimental and numerical studies of multi-effect desalination plants without thermal vapor compression. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 44, 363 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-022-03672-y

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