Design and optimization of MED-TVC desalination plant using mathematical modeling coupled with response surface methodology

Abstract

BackgroundThe ever-increasing demand for a better living condition and clean water resources leads has spawned a tremendous research effort for new and optimized water desalination technologies. MethodsTo this end, an innovative Multi Effect Desalination-Thermal Vapor Compression (MED-TVC) water desalination plant is designed using mathematical modeling for installation in the Persian Gulf. The developed models for the new MED-TVC plant include governing mass, energy and thermodynamic equations are validated against the dataset obtained from the installed MED-TVC plant, then are used to reach the general aim of research or optimize the operation of the MED-TVC plant. Mentioned governing equations were solved to find (GOR), surface area (Ad), and heat transfer rate (Q) for different desalination plants. Then, response surface methodology (RSM) was used for finding optimum operational parameter to reach the optimum targets. The dataset required for the analysis and optimization of MED-TVC based on design parameters and input factors are generated with in-house code considering flashing box and losses due to pressure losses. Considering thermodynamic losses and governing equation of flashing boxes followed by optimizing design parameters such as gain output ratio (GOR), surafe area (Ad), and heat transfer rate (Q) were conducted for the first time in this research. Significant findingThe findings demonstrate maximum relative error percent for design parameters of both industrial desalination plant corresponds to the specific heat transfer area (Ad) of GHESHM (-1.6 %) and specific heat consumption (Q) of RABIGH (-4.44 %). Moreover, gain output ratio (GOR), Ad and Q related to optimized MED-TVC unit are 9.86, 58.96, and 213.66, respectively which are more suitable than that of industrial GHESHM and RABIGH desalination unit. Also, sensitivity analysis of results illustrates that increasing motive steam pressure causes the GOR reduction; however, increasing feed water temperature and motive steam flow rate leads to increasing GOR.