Experimental evaluation of the performance and energy efficiency of a Vacuum Multi-Effect Membrane Distillation system

The main goal of the current manuscript is the experimental outdoor testing of a Vacuum Multi-Effect Membrane Distillation (V-MEMD) System, the evaluation of the performance and energy efficiency under real operating conditions and the overall design of system components under local economic conditions. This system has a nominal capacity of 30-50 L/h and operating temperature range of 50-85 degrees C. The MD system utilizes the memsys V-MEMD modules with four effects. Supporting equipment and systems such as heating, cooling, feed, brine, distillate, recirculation and vacuum loops (cycles) were designed, purchased, installed and tested as an integrated system under outdoor environmental conditions. Experiments were conducted with tap and artificial saline water 30 mS/cm as feed streams. The system performance testing showed that the distillate production can reach 50 L/h at 80 degrees C of inlet heating water. The system distillate production was found to increase mainly with the increase of heating water temperature and flow rate. The energy efficiency indicators of the system was calculated based On the obtained experimental data, namely Specific Thermal Energy Consumption (STEC) ranged between 300-700 kWh/m(3), Gained Output Ratio (GOR) was recorded to vary between 1-2.2 and Performance Ratio (PR) was calculated to be 0.4-0.9 kg/Mj. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.