Performance of a self-regulating solar multistage flash desalination system

Abstract

A 10,000-1 solar multistage flash desalination system was designed and tested at Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. The system consisted of a 220 m 2 solar line-concentrating collector field, 7000-1 thermal storage tank and a self-regulating 12-stage multistage flash desalination subsystem. The collector field, equipped with closed-loop tracking system, was installed with individual troughs oriented in the north-south direction. The thermal storage subsystem was useful in leveling off the thermal energy supply and allowing the production of desalinated water to continue during periods of low radiation and nighttime. The self-regulating capability of the desalination subsystem allowed for the adjustment of the flow rate and pressure, in the various stages of the desalination subsystem, according to the relative difference between the hot brine and input sea water temperatures. This allowed for maintaining a relatively high overall efficiency.