WATER DESALINATION
CHAPTER 4: INTRODUCTION TO THERMAL DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
Dr. Tushar K Sen
Chemical Eng. Department
King Faisal university
DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES (THERMAL )
Thermal desalination process is the widely used desalination techniques all along the world. In
thermal desalination, the specific amount of heat is provided to the water, so that the water
starts boiling. The water vapors escape from the liquid water and are collected. Then these
water vapors are condensed by the condensing units, and this treated water is then
transferred to the other units for the further treatment.
CHE : 444 WATER DESALINATION 2
http://www.performancechemicals.basf.com/ev/internet/watersolutions/en/desalination/thermal-desalination
DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
CHE : 444 WATER DESALINATION 3
INTRODUCTION TO THERMAL DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
• There are many types of thermal desalination technologies that been used to desalinate
sea/brackish water.
• The most common and commercial types of thermal desalination technologies are:
- Multiple Effect Evaporation/distillation (MEE) also called (MED).
- Multi-Stage Flash Evaporation/distillation (MSF).
- Vapor Compression Distillation (VCD).
• The other thermal desalination types perhaps can be considered as a sub-types of the main
ones or less used methods. Some other existence thermal desalination technologies are:
- Solar desalination.
- Vacuum desalination.
- Freeze with hydrates.
- Etc……
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COMMON THERMAL DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
1- Multi-stage flash distillation (MSF)
Multi-stage flash distillation is a process that sends the saline feed water through
multiple chambers. In these chambers, the water is heated and compressed to a high
temperature and high pressure. As the water progressively passes through the chambers,
the pressure is reduced, causing the water to rapidly boil. The vapor, which is fresh
water, is produced in each chamber from boiling and then is condensed and collected.
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COMMON THERMAL DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
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COMMON THERMAL DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
- Advantages and disadvantages of MSF
• MSF plants are relatively simple to construct and easy to operate.
• They have no moving parts, other than conventional pumps, and contains only some amount of
connection tubing.
• The quality of effluent water contains 2–10 ppm of dissolved solids which means a high level of
purification. So it is re-mineralized in the post-treatment process to make it palatable and fit for
consumption.
• Though operating plants at higher temperatures (over 115°C) improves their efficiency but causes
scaling problems because the salts such as calcium sulphate precipitate on the tubes surfaces and cause
thermal and mechanical problems like tube clogging.
• It is considered as an energy intensive process, which requires both thermal and mechanical energy, but
it can be overcome by the cogeneration system.
• Adding more stages in MSF improves its efficiency and increases water production, but it increases the
capital cost and causes operational complexity.
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COMMON THERMAL DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
2- Multi-effect evaporation/distillation (MEE or MED)
Multi-effect evaporation/distillation employs the same principals as the multi-stage flash distillation
process except that instead of using multiple chambers of a single vessel, MED uses successive vessels.
The water vapor that is formed when the water boils is condensed and collected. The multiple vessels
make the MED process more efficient.
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COMMON THERMAL DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
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COMMON THERMAL DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
- Advantages and disadvantages of MED
• The multi-effect distillation process is designed to operate at lower temperatures of 70°C. This lessens
tube corrosion and the scale formation on the tube surfaces.
• The quality of the feed water is not as important as that in Reverse Osmosis system technology. Hence
the cost of pre-treatment and operation of this technology is low.
• The power consumption in this technology is lower than that of the MSF and performance is higher
than MSF plants. Hence MED technology can be considered to be cost effective and more efficient than
MSF technology in terms of potable water production.
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COMMON THERMAL DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
3- Vapor compression distillation (VCD)
Vapor compression distillation can function independently or be used in combination with another
thermal distillation process. VCD uses heat from the compression of vapor to evaporate the feed water.
VCD units are commonly used to produce fresh water for small- to medium-scale purposes such as
resorts, industries, and petroleum drilling sites.
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COMMON THERMAL DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
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COMMON THERMAL DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
- Advantages and disadvantages of VCD
• This method is simple and reliable and hence it can be considered as a better option for small-scale
desalination units. They usually have a capacity of 3000 m3/day and are generally used for resorts,
industries and drilling sites where fresh water is in shortage.
• The operating temperature of VC distillation or evaporation is low which makes it a simple and
efficient process in terms of power consumption.
• Since the operating temperatures are low (below 70°C), the potential for scale formation and tube
corrosion is reduced.
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LESS COMMON THERMAL DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
There are also some more existence thermal desalination technologies such as:
- Solar desalination.
- Vacuum desalination.
- Freeze with hydrates.
- Humidification-dehumidification.
- Etc………
Self-study:
To search and read more about the other
existence thermal desalination technologies
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STATISTICS ON DESALINATION TECHNOLOGIES
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THE END
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