Optimisation of hybrid MED-TVC and double reverse osmosis processes for producing different grades of water in a smart city

Abstract

The integration of two or more processes in a hybrid system is one of the most desirable options to provide flexibility, interoperability and data sharing between the connected processes. Various examples of hybrid systems have been developed with seawater desalination systems such as the combination of thermal and membrane technologies. This paper focuses on the simulation and optimisation of an integrated (hybrid) system of multi effect distillation and double Reverse Osmosis (RO) processes to produce different grades of water needed in a smart city from seawater resources. The optimisation-based model investigates five scenarios to obtain the highest productivity of drinking water, irrigation water, livestock water and power plant water at the lowest specific energy consumption and with the product water salinities within the required standards. For this purpose, multi objective optimisation problem was formulated using the gPROMS (general Process Modelling System) software. The results confirm the superiority of the developed hybrid system to sustain different grades of water in a smart city.