Membrane distillation

Setpoint

Engineering

Distillation

Materials science

Chromatography

Evaporator

Biochemistry

Multiple-effect distillation

Computer science

Heat exchanger

Geology

Low-temperature thermal desalination

Solar energy

Oceanography

Geothermal desalination

Waste management

Mechanical engineering

Environmental engineering

Thermodynamics

Vacuum distillation

Physics

Nuclear engineering

Membrane

Desalination

Process engineering

Environmental science

Artificial intelligence

Chemistry

Seawater

Solar desalination

Thermal energy

Electrical engineering

Applied Energy

The evaluation of a novel solar seawater desalination system implemented at the University of Almeria (Spain) is presented. It integrates a solar thermal field based on static collectors and a thermal desalination system based on the vacuum multi-effect membrane distillation technology. The distillation unit has a particular innovation to increase its thermal performance, using a seawater flow to condense the steam and preheat the feed. Experiments were made under different environmental conditions to assess the role of the thermal storage system for minimizing the effect of disturbances in solar radiation. Thermal energy could be delivered at a stable temperature to the distillation module, even with variable solar radiation. A simulation analysis based on a quasi-dynamic model was also performed to evaluate the distillate production profile and the operating time during a typical year considering different temperature setpoints at the inlet of the membrane module (60, 70, and 80 °C). The simulated volume of distilled water generated annually ranged from 41.7 to 70.5 m3, depending on the setpoint. The membrane distillation unit produced water almost uniformly along the year, with an average flux of (5.5 ± 1) l h−1 m−2 at the maximum setpoint, which was proved the most favourable.

Application of solar energy to seawater desalination in a pilot system based on vacuum multi-effect membrane distillation