Elsevier

Desalination

Volume 212, Issues 1–3, 25 June 2007, Pages 294-302
Desalination

Application of absorption heat pumps to multi-effect distillation: a case study of solar desalination

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2006.10.014Get rights and content

Abstract

The coupling of a double-effect absorption heat pump and a multi-effect distillation unit was demonstrated at the Plataforma Solar de Almería (CIEMAT), Spain, within a solar desalination research project. Improvements that were identified have been implemented in a new prototype within the framework of the European project entitled AQUASOL (March 2002 – February 2006). The prototype, which will be tested during the demonstration phase of this project, is expected to consume about half of the multi-effect distillation unit but at a higher temperature, 180 °C. This paper points out different advantages of coupling an absorption heat pump to a multi-effect distillation system which could significantly increase the competitiveness of both conventional and solar powered multi-effect distillation plants. In addition, this paper shows that intensive research should be carried out for optimising and assessing such a desalination system.

References (26)

  • M.A. Darwish et al.

    Appl. Therm. Eng.

    (1996)
  • C. Temstet et al.

    Desalination

    (1996)
  • F.N. Alasfour et al.

    Desalination

    (2005)
  • T. Michels

    Desalination

    (1993)
  • M.A. Darwish et al.

    Desalination

    (2004)
  • A. Al-Radif

    Desalination

    (1993)
  • S.E. Aly

    Desalination

    (1990)
  • S.E. Aly

    Desalination

    (1991)
  • V.V. Slesarenko

    Desalination

    (1999)
  • V.V. Slesarenko

    Desalination

    (2001)
  • S.E. Aly

    Desalination

    (1995)
  • K. Fathalah et al.

    Energy Conversion and Management

    (1991)
  • L. García Rodríguez et al.

    Desalination

    (2001)
  • Cited by (0)

    View full text