Optimizing the operating parameters of a solar desalination plant

Abstract

A simulation program developed for predicting the performance of solar desalination plants was used to optimize the operating conditions of the solar plant at Abu Dhabi. The program was validated against actual operating results from the plant and agreement was satisfactory even under unsettled weather conditions. This program was used to optimize three major operating parameters that affect the performance and distillate output, namely, the collector area in service, the high-temperature collector setpoint, and the heating water flow rate. Typical weather conditions for Abu Dhabi have been used as input to the simulation program. A number of computer runs were made using values for the operating parameters that may easily be achieved at the plant by simply changing the setpoints or adjusting a manual valve. The aim of this work is to look for the optimum values for the operating parameters that result in maximizing the evaporator distillate production for every month of the year. The maximum daily distillate production corresponding to the optimum operating parameters was found to be 120 m 3/day (full load) for eight months of the year, namely, February, March, April, May, June, August, September, and October. The production level during the other months is somewhat lower, reaching its lowest value of 90 m 3/day in December.