Concentrating solar power multi-effect desalination in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

As about two-thirds of the thermal energy to the power cycle of a concentrated solar power plant is dumped to the condenser, typically air or evaporative cooling, there is the opportunity to achieve energy savings by using a multi-effect distillation system to condensate the steam and at the same time produce desalinized water. Preliminary design considerations and computations for a concentrated solar power plant located in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, are here proposed. The solar field has an aperture of 1,230,000 m(2), it uses oil as the receiver fluid, it uses a six hours' thermal energy storage by molten salt, and it features a 140 MW turbine. It is expected production of up to 413 GWh of electricity annually, for a capacity factor of 0.36, by using an air-cooled condenser. Adoption of a glass enclosure and a multi-effect distillation plant replacing the air-cooled condenser may permit the same electricity production plus the production of desalinized water in an environment protected by sand and dust.

Automated summary

The study proposes using a multi-effect distillation system in a concentrated solar power plant to condensate steam while producing desalinized water for energy savings. Preliminary design considerations for a project in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, are discussed, which could potentially allow for electricity production and desalination in a sand and dust-protected environment.