Performance evaluation of a solar multi-stage humidification dehumidification desalination plant with heat recovery section

Abstract

In this study, a solar multi-stage humidification-compression desalination plant with heat recovery section was experimentally studied. Since honeycomb cellulose pads are more efficient than the conventional packings, in this plant, the humidifier was filled with cellulose pads. The influence of several operating parameters on the plant performance was experimentally studied. The experiments were conducted by one-at-a-time method and the plant was optimized using the response surface methodology based on a central composite design. The results showed that increasing the temperature of the inlet water to the humidifier and the compressor pressure ratio while reducing the water-to-air mass flow ratio enhanced the gained output ratio (GOR), performance ratio (PR), and recovery ratio percentage (RR%). Besides, to improve the specific energy consumption (SEC), the temperature of the inlet water to the humidifier and water-to-air mass flow ratio should be increased while the compressor pressure ratio should be decreased. The salt concentration in the feed does not have a significant influence on the system performance. The production cost was estimated at 1.3–8.53 $·m−3 in the proposed system, which, is capable to produce demineralized water.