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Steady-State Modelling of a Low-Temperature Multi-effect Distillation Plant

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Concentrating Solar Power and Desalination Plants

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Abstract

This chapter describes the development of a mathematical model of a vertically stacked, forward feed (FF), low-temperature multi-effect distillation (LT-MED) plant. The model was developed by taking into consideration the same design and operational characteristics as the pilot multi-effect distillation (MED) plant at Plataforma Solar de Almería, in the southeast of Spain. The model has been validated, comparing the results of the model with the experimental data from the pilot plant.

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Abbreviations

A :

Heat transfer area (m2)

C p :

Specific heat (kJ/kg°C)

M :

Mass flow rate (kg/s)

M´ :

Mass flow rate by flashing process (kg/s)

N :

Total number of effects

NEA:

Non-equilibrium allowance (°C)

PR:

Performance ratio

Q :

Heat transfer rate (kW)

T :

Temperature (°C)

T´:

Temperature by flashing process (°C)

U :

Overall heat transfer coefficient (kW/m2°C)

X :

Salt concentration (g/kg)

TTL:

Thermodynamic loss (°C)

λ :

Latent heat of evaporation (kJ/kg)

b:

Reject brine

v:

Vapour entering, leaving (as distillate) and generated inside the evaporator or effect

c:

Condenser

cw:

Cooling seawater

sw:

Seawater

d:

Distillate

da:

Distillate from the distribution system

dr:

Distillate entering the mixers in the distribution system

dm:

Portion of distillate distributed between the effects and the mixers

vh:

Vapour consumed by preheater or distillate generated in the preheater

gb:

Generated vapour by boiling

gf:

Generated vapour by flashing

f:

Feedwater

fv:

Generated vapour by boiling and flashing

s:

Heating steam in the first effect

eff:

Effect

ph:

Preheater

vc:

Vapour in the condenser

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CIEMAT—Plataforma Solar de Almería, Tabernas, Almería, Spain

    Patricia Palenzuela, Diego-César Alarcón-Padilla & Guillermo Zaragoza

Authors
  1. Patricia Palenzuela
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  2. Diego-César Alarcón-Padilla
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  3. Guillermo Zaragoza
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Palenzuela, P., Alarcón-Padilla, DC., Zaragoza, G. (2015). Steady-State Modelling of a Low-Temperature Multi-effect Distillation Plant. In: Concentrating Solar Power and Desalination Plants. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20535-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20535-9_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-20534-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-20535-9

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

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