Concept and analysis of hybrid reversal multi-stage flash and membrane distillation desalination system

Emad Ali*, Jamel Orfi, Hany AlAnsary, Saleh Baakeem, Ahmad S. Alsaadi, Noreddine Ghaffour

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The concept and analysis of integrating membrane distillations (MD) with reversal once-through Multistage Flash (RV-MSF) desalination is presented. The analysis is based on numerical simulation. The MD vessels are integrated into the terminal ends of the RV-MSF system to leverage the thermal energy associated with these terminal streams. Hybridisation at the last MSF stage, i.e. by replacing the brine cooler, contributes marginally to the overall production rate which amounts to 2%. However, it is found that hybridisation at stage one, i.e. utilising the energy of the MSF reject brine can increase the overall production rate by 65%. For seawater feed temperature of 80 oC and 24 MSF stages, 5 MD vessels in series can be integrated with the RV-MSF process. This ultimate hybridisation helped improve the recovery ratio from 7 to 23%, decreasing the specific cooling water requirement from 23 to 12 kg/kg and reducing the specific energy consumption from 129 to 41 kWh/m3 with respect to the stand-alone RV-MSF system. However, this achievement incurs an additional specific area for heat transfer which increased from 29 to 65 m2/(kg/s). This is because a large number of MD modules are incorporated into the hybridisation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5218-5231
Number of pages14
JournalEnvironmental Technology (United Kingdom)
Volume45
Issue number24
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2023

Keywords

  • hybridization
  • membrane distillation
  • multistage flash desalination
  • reversal
  • Water desalination

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Environmental Chemistry
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Waste Management and Disposal

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