Abstract
The scarcity of clean and safe water is one of the most perilous glitches faced by the world. The pure drinking water resources across the world are depleting progressively due to rapid industrialization and growth in population. The conceivable solution for this problem is converting the available seawater into pure drinking water through several techniques of desalination. In the stream of desalination, many prodigious endeavours are in evolution to increase the reliability of the process by cutting down the principal and maintenance costs. Among several desalination approaches, low-temperature thermal desalination (LTTD) is an intriguing and advancing trend in the desalination process by using low temperatures and pressures in a range similar to ambient temperatures and vacuum pressures. The LTTD technique is operated by taking the energy input from waste heat, thermoclines and renewable energy sources. However, the operating temperatures of the LTTD system are less than 50 °C. The development of this particular LTTD process driven by renewable energy sources has gone through various stages, based on the water–energy demands, environmental concerns and technological progressions. In this article, the historical developments of the LTTD process using several renewable and non-renewable energy sources have been reviewed. Finally, some future recommendations for further developments in this approach are discussed. This article paves the path for the researchers working in desalination to choose an appropriate LTTD approach that is more viable and sustainable than the conventional desalination systems.
Similar content being viewed by others
Availability of data and materials
The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request
References
Abbaspour MJ, Faegh M, Shafii MB (2019) Experimental examination of a natural vacuum desalination system integrated with evacuated tube collectors. Desalination 467:79–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2019.06.004
Abdelkareem MA, El Haj AM, Sayed ET, Soudan B (2018) Recent progress in the use of renewable energy sources to power water desalination plants. Desalination 435:97–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2017.11.018
Abraham R (2007) Experimental studies on a desalination plant using ocean temperature difference. Int J Nucl Desalination 2:383. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijnd.2007.015804
Abraham R, Singh TR (2007) Thermocline-driven desalination: the technology and its potential. Int J Nucl Desalination 2:109. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijnd.2006.012513
Abutayeh M, Goswami DY (2009) Solar flash desalination under hydrostatically sustained vacuum. J Solar Energy Eng Trans ASME 131:0310161–0310167. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3142724
Abutayeh M, Goswami DY (2010) Experimental simulation of solar flash desalination. J Solar Energy Eng Trans ASME 132:1–7. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4002557
Abutayeh M, Humood M, Alsheghri AA, et al (2013) Experimental study of a solar thermal desalination unit. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 6B: Energy. San Diego, California, USA. November 15–21, 2013. V06BT07A067. pp 1–9
Agha KR (2009) The thermal characteristics and economic analysis of a solar pond coupled low temperature multi stage desalination plant. Sol Energy 20:255–274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2008.09.008
Agha KR, Rice G, Wheldon AE (2000) The thermal characteristics and economic analysis of a solar pond coupled low temperature multi stage desalination plant part I: thermal characteristics. Int J Solar Energy 20:255–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425910008914359
Agha KR, Rice G, Wheldon A (2001) The thermal characteristics and economic analysis of a solar pond coupled low temperature multi stage desalination plant part II: economic analysis. Int J Solar Energy 21:1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425910008914360
Aguilar-Jiménez JA, Velázquez N, López-Zavala R et al (2020) Low-temperature multiple-effect desalination/organic Rankine cycle system with a novel integration for fresh water and electrical energy production. Desalination 477:114269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2019.114269
Ahmadi M, Thimmaiah P, Bahrami M et al (2016) Experimental and numerical investigation of a solar eductor-assisted low-pressure water desalination system. Sci Bull 61:959–973. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-016-1092-0
Ahmed SA, Hani HA, Al Bazedi GA et al (2014) Small/medium nuclear reactors for potential desalination applications: mini review. Korean J Chem Eng 31:924–929. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-014-0079-2
Ahmed MH, Amin AMA, Fath HEB (2018) Modeling of solar power plant for electricity generation and water desalination. J Solar Energy Eng 141:011015. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4041260
Alkaisi A, Mossad R, Sharifian-Barforoush A (2017) A review of the water desalination systems integrated with renewable energy. Energy Procedia 110:268–274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.138
Al-Kharabsheh S, Goswami DY (2003) Experimental study of an innovative solar water desalination system utilizing a passive vacuum technique. Sol Energy 75:395–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2003.08.031
Al-Kharabsheh S, Goswami DY (2004) Theoretical analysis of a water desalination system using low grade solar heat. J Solar Energy Eng 126:774. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1669450
Almatrafi E, Moloney F, Goswami DY (2018) Performance analysis of solar thermal powered supercritical organic rankine cycle assisted low-temperature multi effect desalination coupled with mechanical vapor compression. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2018 Power Conference. pp 1–9
Al-Sahali M, Ettouney H (2007) Developments in thermal desalination processes: design, energy, and costing aspects. Desalination 214:227–240. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2006.08.020
Ambarita H (2016) Study on the performance of natural vacuum desalination system using low grade heat source. Case Stud Thermal Eng 8:346–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2016.09.005
Ayhan T, Al-Madani H (2016) Combined effects of evaporation and cavitation on the performance of a renewable energy powered natural vacuum desalination unit in Bahrain. Desalin Water Treat 57:12929–12940. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2015.1057529
Bandelier P, D’Hurlaborde JJ, Pelascini F et al (2015) SOLMED: solar energy and polymers for seawater desalination. Desalin Water Treat 55:3285–3294. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2014.939500
Bandelier P, Pelascini F, d’Hurlaborde JJ et al (2016) MED seawater desalination using a low-grade solar heat source. Desalin Water Treat 57:23074–23084. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2016.1148220
Belessiotis V, Papanicolaou E, Delyannis E (2010) Nuclear desalination: a review on past and present. Desalin Water Treat 20:45–50. https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2010.1942
Chen Q, Ja MK, Li Y, Chua KJ (2017) On the second law analysis of a multi-stage spray-assisted low-temperature desalination system. Energy Convers Manag 148:1306–1316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.06.080
Chen Q, Ja MK, Li Y, Chua KJ (2018a) Energy, economic and environmental (3E) analysis and multi-objective optimization of a spray-assisted low-temperature desalination system. Energy 151:387–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2018.03.051
Chen Q, Kum Ja M, Li Y, Chua KJ (2018b) Evaluation of a solar-powered spray-assisted low-temperature desalination technology. Appl Energy 211:997–1008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.11.103
Chunhua Q, Hongqing L, Houjun F et al (2017) Performance and economic analysis of the distilled seawater desalination process using low-temperature waste hot water. Appl Therm Eng 122:712–722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.05.064
de Bruyn R, Hannink R, Kuhr R, et al (2008) PBMR desalination options: an economic study. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Topical Meeting on High Temperature Reactor Technology. pp 287–292
Delpisheh M, Haghghi MA, Athari H, Mehrpooya M (2021) Desalinated water and hydrogen generation from seawater via a desalination unit and a low temperature electrolysis using a novel solar-based setup. Int J Hydrog Energy 46:7211–7229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.11.215
Diaf A, Cherfa A, Karadaniz L, Tigrine Z (2016) A technical-economical study of solar desalination. Desalination 377:123–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2015.09.017
El-Dessouky HT, Ettouney HM, Al-Roumi Y (1999) Multi-stage flash desalination: present and future outlook. Chem Eng J 73:173–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1385-8947(99)00035-2
Esfahani IJ, Rashidi J, Ifaei P, Yoo CK (2016) Efficient thermal desalination technologies with renewable energy systems: a state-of-the-art review. Korean J Chem Eng 33:351–387. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-015-0296-3
Gao P, Zhou G (2012) Analysis of an evaporation-condensation desalination system in vacuum driven by geothermal energy. Desalin Water Treat 43:76–83. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2012.672205
Ghaffour N, Bundschuh J, Mahmoudi H, Goosen MFA (2015) Renewable energy-driven desalination technologies: a comprehensive review on challenges and potential applications of integrated systems. Desalination 356:94–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2014.10.024
Ghalavand Y, Hatamipour MS, Rahimi A (2015) A review on energy consumption of desalination processes. Desalin Water Treat 54:1526–1541. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2014.892837
Gude VG (2015) Energy storage for desalination processes powered by renewable energy and waste heat sources. Appl Energy 137:877–898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.06.061
Gude VG, Nirmalakhandan N (2008) Combined desalination and solar-assisted air-conditioning system. Energy Convers Manag 49:3326–3330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2008.03.030
Gude VG, Nirmalakhandan N (2009) Desalination at low temperature and low pressure. Desalination 244:239–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2008.06.005
Gude VG, Nirmalakhandan N, Deng S (2010) Renewable and sustainable approaches for desalination. Renew Sust Energ Rev 14:2641–2654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.06.008
Gude VG, Nirmalakhandan N, Deng S (2011) Sustainable low temperature desalination: a case for renewable energy. J Renew Sustain Energy 3:043108. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3608910
Gude VG, Nirmalakhandan N, Deng S (2012a) Integrated PV-thermal system for desalination and power production. Desalin Water Treat 36:129–140. https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2011.2231
Gude VG, Nirmalakhandan N, Deng S, Maganti A (2012b) Feasibility study of a new two-stage low temperature desalination process. Energy Convers Manag 56:192–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2011.11.026
Gude VG, Nirmalakhandan N, Deng S, Maganti A (2012c) Low temperature desalination using solar collectors augmented by thermal energy storage. Appl Energy 91:466–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.10.018
Hamawand I, Lewis L, Ghaffour N, Bundschuh J (2017) Desalination of salty water using vacuum spray dryer driven by solar energy. Desalination 404:182–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2016.11.015
Hou JW, Cheng HG, Wang D et al (2010) Experimental investigation of low temperature distillation coupled with spray evaporation. Desalination 258:5–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2010.03.030
Jims John Wessley G, Jawahar CP, Koshy Mathews P (2016) Preliminary investigations on an air-cooled based low temperature flash evaporation desalination system for small-scale applications. Desalin Water Treat 57:15735–15739. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2015.1077740
Jin Z, Wang H (2015) Modelling and experiments on ocean thermal energy for desalination. Int J Sustain Energy 34:103–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786451.2013.820187
John Wessley J, Mathews K (2015) Thermodynamic analysis of a single and two-stage solar assisted air-cooled flash evaporation desalination system for small-scale applications. Desalin Water Treat 54:2364–2375. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2014.901188
Kathiroli S, Jalihal P, Sistla PVS (2008) Barge mounted low temperature thermal desalination plant. In: The Eighteenth International Offshore and Polar Engineering Conference, Vancouver.
Klausner JF, Li Y, Darwish M, Mei R (2004) Innovative diffusion driven desalination process. J Energy Resources Technol 126:219. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1786927
Klausner JF, Li Y, Mei R (2006) Evaporative heat and mass transfer for the diffusion driven desalination process. Heat Mass Transfer/Waerme- und Stoffuebertragung 42:528–536. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-005-0649-2
Kumar RS, Mani A, Kumaraswamy S (2005) Analysis of a jet-pump-assisted vacuum desalination system using power plant waste heat. Desalination 179:345–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2004.11.081
Leblanc J, Andrews J (2007) Low-temperature multi-effect evaporation desalination systems coupled with salinity-gradient solar ponds. In: Goswami DY, Zhao Y (eds) Proceedings of ISES World Congress 2007, I–V edn. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp 2151–2157
Li Y, Klausner JF, Mei R (2006) Performance characteristics of the diffusion driven desalination process. Desalination 196:188–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2006.01.013
Liu X, Chen W, Shen S et al (2013) The research on thermal and economic performance of solar desalination system with evacuated tube collectors. Desalin Water Treat 51:3728–3734. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2013.794765
Low SC, Tay PJH (1991) Vacuum desalination using waste heat from a steam turbine. Desalination 81:321–331. https://doi.org/10.1016/0011-9164(91)85066-4
Maria Antony Raj M, Kalidasa Murugavel K, Rajaseenivasan T, Srithar K (2016) A review on flash evaporation desalination. Desalin Water Treat 57:13462–13471. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2015.1070283
Maroo SC, Goswami DY (2009) Theoretical analysis of a single-stage and two-stage solar driven flash desalination system based on passive vacuum generation. Desalination 249:635–646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2008.12.055
Méndez C, Bicer Y (2021) Integrated system based on solar chimney and wind energy for hybrid desalination via reverse osmosis and multi-stage flash with brine recovery. Sustain Energy Technol Assess 44:101080. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2021.101080
Miller S, Shemer H, Semiat R (2015) Energy and environmental issues in desalination. Desalination 366:2–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2014.11.034
Missimer TM, Kim YD, Rachman R, Ng KC (2013) Sustainable renewable energy seawater desalination using combined-cycle solar and geothermal heat sources. Desalin Water Treat 51:1161–1170. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2012.704685
Mohammed RH, Askalany AA (2019) Productivity improvements of adsorption desalination systems. In: In: Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Singapore, pp 325–357
Mutair S, Ikegami Y (2010) Experimental investigation on the characteristics of flash evaporation from superheated water jets for desalination. Desalination 251:103–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2009.09.136
Muthunayagam AE, Ramamurthi K, Paden JR (2005a) Low temperature flash vaporization for desalination. Desalination 180:25–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2004.12.028
Muthunayagam AE, Ramamurthi K, Paden JR (2005b) Modelling and experiments on vaporization of saline water at low temperatures and reduced pressures. Appl Therm Eng 25:941–952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2004.08.005
Natarajan SK, Reddy K. (2005) Design and performance evaluation of novel solar desalination system. In: National conference on “Recent Trends in Renewable Energy Technology” (NACOEE-05). pp 1–9
Ng KC, Shahzad MW (2018) Sustainable desalination using ocean thermocline energy. Renew Sust Energ Rev 82:240–246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.08.087
Ng KC, Thu K, Kim Y et al (2013) Adsorption desalination: an emerging low-cost thermal desalination method. Desalination 308:161–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2012.07.030
Olabi AG, Elsaid K, Rabaia MKH et al (2020) Waste heat-driven desalination systems: perspective. Energy 209:118373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.118373
Patel SK, Patel SK, Ritt CL et al (2020) The relative insignificance of advanced materials in enhancing the energy efficiency of desalination technologies. Energy Environ Sci 13:1694–1710. https://doi.org/10.1039/d0ee00341g
Qiblawey HM, Banat F (2008) Solar thermal desalination technologies. Desalination 220:633–644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2007.01.059
Rashid A, Ayhan T, Abbas A (2016) Natural vacuum distillation for seawater desalination – a review. Desalin Water Treat 57:26943–26953. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2016.1172264
Rey M, Lauro F (1981) Ocean thermal energy and desalination. Desalination 39:159–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0011-9164(00)86118-4
Rognoni M, Kathiroli S, Jalihal P (2008) Low temperature thermal desalination (LTTD): new sustainable desalination process. Int J Nucl Desalination 3:69. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijnd.2008.018930
Saad M, Ahmed M, Morcos V. (2011) Performance analysis of a vacuum desalination system. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2011 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition IMECE2011. pp 421–425
Saari R (1978) Desalination by very low-temperature nuclear heat. Nucl Technol 38:209–214. https://doi.org/10.13182/nt78-a32014
Senthil Kumar R, Mani A, Kumaraswamy S (2007) Experimental studies on desalination system for ocean thermal energy utilisation. Desalination 207:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2006.08.001
Setyawan EY, Ambarita H (2018) A preliminary field test of a natural vacuum solar desalination unit using hybrid solar collector. AIP Conf Proc 1984:020014. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5046598
Setyawan EY, Nakhoda YI, Siagian P, Napitupulu RAM (2020) Geometry fin performance in vacuum desalination system condenser tubes using low temperature. IOP Conf Series: Mater Sci Eng 852:012045. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/852/1/012045
Shahu VT, Thombre SB (2019) Air gap membrane distillation: a review. J Renew Sustain Energy 11:045901. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5063766
Shahzad MW, Burhan M, Ghaffour N, Ng KC (2018) A multi evaporator desalination system operated with thermocline energy for future sustainability. Desalination 435:268–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2017.04.013
Sharon H, Reddy KS (2015) A review of solar energy driven desalination technologies. Renew Sust Energ Rev 41:1080–1118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.09.002
Sistla PVS, Venkatesan G, Jalihal P, Kathiroli S (2009) Low temperature thermal desalination plants. Proceedings of the ISOPE Ocean Mining Symposium 59–63
Stengler J, Schaber K, Mall-Gleissle S (2018) Experimental study on low temperature desalination by flash evaporation in a novel compact chamber design. Desalination 448:103–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2018.09.021
Suraparaju SK, Natarajan SK (2021) Productivity enhancement of single-slope solar still with novel bottom finned absorber basin inserted in phase change material (PCM): techno-economic and enviro-economic analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28:45985–46006. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13495-4
Suraparaju SK, Dhanusuraman R, Natarajan SK (2021a) Performance evaluation of single slope solar still with novel pond fibres. Process Saf Environ Prot 154:142–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2021.08.011
Suraparaju SK, Sampathkumar A, Natarajan SK (2021b) Experimental and economic analysis of energy storage-based single-slope solar still with hollow-finned absorber basin. Heat Transfer. https://doi.org/10.1002/htj.22136
Suraparaju SK, Jha N, Manoj S, Natarajan SK (2022a) Mathematical modelling and performance analysis of single slope solar desalination system. In: Govindan K, Kumar H, Yadav S (eds) Advances in mechanical and materials technology. Springer Singapore, Singapore, pp 17–33
Suraparaju SK, Sampathkumar A, Natarajan SK (2022b) A mini state of art survey on photovoltaic/thermal desalination systems. In: Govindan K, Kumar H, Yadav S (eds) Advances in mechanical and materials technology. Springer Singapore, Singapore, pp 1–15
Tay JH, Low SC, Jeyaseelan S (1996) Vacuum desalination for water purification using waste heat. Desalination 106:131–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0011-9164(96)00104-X
Thimmaraju M, Sreepada D, Gummadi SB, et al (2018) Desalination of water. In: Eyvaz M, Yüksel E (eds) Desalination and Water Treatment. IntechOpen, pp 333–347
Thu K, Yanagi H, Saha BB, Ng KC (2013) Performance analysis of a low-temperature waste heat-driven adsorption desalination prototype. Int J Heat Mass Transf 65:662–669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2013.06.053
Venkatesan G, Iniyan S, Goic R (2012) A prototype flash cooling desalination system using cooling water effluent. Int J Energy Res 37:1132–1140. https://doi.org/10.1002/er.2932
Venkatesan G, Iniyan S, Jalihal P (2014) A desalination method utilising low-grade waste heat energy. Desalin Water Treat 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2014.960459
Xevgenos D, Moustakas K, Malamis D, Loizidou M (2016) An overview on desalination & sustainability: renewable energy-driven desalination and brine management. Desalin Water Treat 57:2304–2314. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2014.984927
Xuening F, Lei C, Yuman D et al (2015) CFD modeling and analysis of brine spray evaporation system integrated with solar collector. Desalination 366:139–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2015.02.027
Zhang F, Xu S, Feng D et al (2017) A low-temperature multi-effect desalination system powered by the cooling water of a diesel engine. Desalination 404:112–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2016.11.006
Zhao Y, Akbarzadeh A, Andrews J (2007) Combined water desalination and power generation using a salinity gradient solar pond as a renewable energy source. In: Proceedings of Ises Solar World Congress 2007: Solar Energy and Human Settlement, Vols I-V. pp 2184–2188
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Sendhil Kumar Natarajan: conceptualization, validation, resources, writing — review and editing, supervision, project administration.
Subbarama Kousik Suraparaju: conceptualization, formal analysis, investigation, data curation, visualization, writing — original draft
Rajvikram Madurai Elavarasan: validation, writing — review and editing
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Not applicable
Consent for publication
Not applicable
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Highlights
1. The low-temperature thermal desalination approaches have been reviewed.
2. The review article is the first of its kind which no author presented before.
3. Experimental, simulation, commercially available research demonstrations are reviewed.
4. This paper gives wider elucidation on the flash evaporation and vacuum distillation techniques.
5. The evolution of LTTD approaches has been summarized.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Natarajan, S.K., Suraparaju, S.K. & Elavarasan, R.M. A review on low-temperature thermal desalination approach. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 32443–32466 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19147-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19147-5