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Small-Scale Desalination Plant Driven by Solar Energy for Isolated Communities

Author

Listed:
  • Angelica Liponi

    (Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 1, 56122 Pisa, Italy)

  • Claretta Tempesti

    (Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 1, 56122 Pisa, Italy)

  • Andrea Baccioli

    (Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 1, 56122 Pisa, Italy)

  • Lorenzo Ferrari

    (Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Construction Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 1, 56122 Pisa, Italy)

Abstract

In the last years, an increasing number of countries has been affected by water shortage. Seawater desalination driven by solar energy, which is usually available in arid regions, might be a solution to satisfy the freshwater demand. In this study, the feasibility of a stand-alone multi-effect desalination (MED) plant driven by solar energy for an isolated community was studied. The system was made up of a solar field, a MED unit, and a thermal storage that mitigated solar energy fluctuations. Simulations with different top brine temperature and inclination and number of the solar panels were carried out in Matlab and Aspen Plus on an hourly basis by considering one typical meteorological year for ambient temperature and solar radiation. Two different sources of electrical energy were considered: A photovoltaic (PV) field and a diesel generator. The results were compared from an energetic and economic point of view, by considering the adoption of plastic as a material for MED heat exchangers. The maximum water production was obtained with December as the design month. Polytetrafluoroethylene heat exchangers allowed the cost of water to be reduced up to 9.5% compared to conventional exchangers. The lowest cost of water (7.09 $/ m 3 ) was obtained with September as the design month and a tilt angle of 45° with the PV field as the electrical power source.

Suggested Citation

  • Angelica Liponi & Claretta Tempesti & Andrea Baccioli & Lorenzo Ferrari, 2020. "Small-Scale Desalination Plant Driven by Solar Energy for Isolated Communities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:15:p:3864-:d:391173
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gómez Aláez, S.L. & Bombarda, P. & Invernizzi, C.M. & Iora, P. & Silva, P., 2015. "Evaluation of ORC modules performance adopting commercial plastic heat exchangers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 882-890.
    2. Saldivia, David & Rosales, Carlos & Barraza, Rodrigo & Cornejo, Lorena, 2019. "Computational analysis for a multi-effect distillation (MED) plant driven by solar energy in Chile," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 206-220.
    3. Lamei, A. & van der Zaag, P. & von Münch, E., 2008. "Impact of solar energy cost on water production cost of seawater desalination plants in Egypt," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 1748-1756, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mingwei Yan & Yuetao Shi, 2020. "Thermal and Economic Analysis of Multi-Effect Concentration System by Utilizing Waste Heat of Flue Gas for Magnesium Desulfurization Wastewater," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-20, October.
    2. Ekaterina Sokolova & Khashayar Sadeghi & Seyed Hadi Ghazaie & Dario Barsi & Francesca Satta & Pietro Zunino, 2022. "Feasibility of Hybrid Desalination Plants Coupled with Small Gas Turbine CHP Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-13, May.
    3. Hossein Yousefi & Mohamad Aramesh & Bahman Shabani, 2021. "Design Parameters of a Double-Slope Solar Still: Modelling, Sensitivity Analysis, and Optimization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-23, January.
    4. Frate, Guido Francesco & Baccioli, Andrea & Bernardini, Leonardo & Ferrari, Lorenzo, 2022. "Assessment of the off-design performance of a solar thermally-integrated pumped-thermal energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P1), pages 636-650.

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