Performance and cost comparison of different concentrated solar power plants integrated with direct-contact membrane distillation system

Abstract

Recently, research on integrated power and desalination plants has been increased due to increasing energy demand, freshwater scarcity, and environmental concerns. In the current study, performance and cost comparison of different configurations of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants integrated with direct-contact membrane distillation (DCMD) system has been investigated. The analysis of CSP plants was performed for 80 MWe with 12 h of thermal storage. The CSP plant comprised of an evaporative cooling system that used seawater as a cooling medium, and seawater exited from the condenser was fed into the DCMD system for freshwater production. The simulation results showed that an increase in irradiance increased electricity production. However, the maximum electricity production (353.87 GWh) and the highest capacity factor (56.1%) were achieved for the solar power tower (SPT) plant. On the contrary, levelized cost of energy was lowest (4.51 cents/kWh) for the parabolic-trough (PT) plant. For the DCMD system, an increase in feed water temperature exponentially increased the permeate flux. The simulation results disclosed that the maximum freshwater production (38.9 m3/day) was achieved for PT plant integrated with the DCMD system. Finally, water production cost was found to be the lowest (0.314 USD/m3) for the SPT plant integrated with the DCMD system.