A hybrid multi effect distillation and double reverse osmosis system for most economical brackish water desalination

Abstract

Brackish water desalination is one of the most promising methods to generate freshwater for the community in water-scarce regions. The current research proposes a hybrid Multi Effect Distillation and Thermal Vapor Compression (MED-TVC) and double Reverse Osmosis (RO) system for brackish water desalination for the Jordanian arid and semi-arid regions. In this regard, ten effects MED system was coupled with two permeate and retentate reprocessing designs of RO processes to desalinate brackish water. For this purpose, the model for the hybrid system developed by the same authors in the past has been used for simulation. For a given set of brackish water properties, the indicators such as the freshwater productivity, freshwater salinity, specific energy consumption, and disposed brine flow rate are used to evaluate the performance of the process in terms of economics and environment. The results show that freshwater can be produced from brackish water with high productivity and reduced specific energy consumption and with reduced brine flow rate into the environment compared to seawater desalination.