Pilot testing of a novel integrated Multi Effect Distillation - Absorber compressor (MED-AB) technology for high performance seawater desalination

Abstract

This work presents a novel integration of Multi Effect Distillation with Absorption compressor (MED-AB) to reduce the energy consumption and unit water cost. The MED-AB pilot plant has been installed with a nominal capacity of 25 m3/day to validate the concept under a seawater salinity of 57,500 ppm (West of Qatar). Both pilot testing and the simulation results confirm the features of the novel design of the MED-AB process. Simulation of a commercial evaporator of 15 MIGD capacity showed that the specific energy consumption of the proposed MED-AB is calculated as 4.8 kWh/m3, which is 60% lower than the existing MED-TVC plant (13 kWh/m3). Compared to the traditional MED-TVC, the seawater feed and pumping power of MED-AB process is lower by 70% and 55%, respectively. The results confirm the minimization of the environmental impact of dumping thermal energy back into the sea and reduce the plant's capital investment, covering feed pumps size and the intake/outfall civil work. The levelized unit water cost of the MED-AB is calculated as 0.46 $/m3, which is 22% lower than that of a conventional MED-TVC desalination plant. The novel MED-AB technology would create a potential solution for the industrial applications of high salinity byproduct and solar desalination.