Abstract
A theoretical analysis of the performance and limitations of integrated direct contact membrane distillation module and heat pump (DCMD-HP) is presented. The investigation aims to identify and compare the operating limits, output flux, energy efficiency, and production cost of different scenarios of integrations for optimized performance. Open and closed water cycles for feed and permeate streams were investigated, with R134a and R22 as working refrigerants. Results showed that the heat pump specifications determine the limits of condenser and evaporator heat exchangers performances. Integrating a heat pump to drive the DCMD desalination unit depicted lower energy consumption and production cost as compared to the electrically driven system for heating and cooling, for the same output flux, as informed by the calculated GOR and SEC values. The analysis included customizing the heat pump for a given DCMD unit in a closed water cycle that resulted in GOR values between 1.8 and 2.1 and SEC values between 330 and 400 kWh/m3, with production cost from 30 to 4 $/m3. The work studied customizing a parallel multistage DCMD for a 2 kW commercial heat pump and the production cost was reduced to 0.5–2 $/m3.
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