Thermal analysis of a multi effect distillation plant powered by a solar tower plant

Decreasing water resources and steadily rising water demand drive research towards new approaches for safe and reliable water supply for the municipal, agricultural and industrial sectors. One solution for fresh water provision is sea water desalination using solar thermal energy. This paper describes the coupling of a Multi Effect Distillation (MED) plant with a Clausius-Rankine cycle powered by a solar central receiver system. A steady state model of an MED plant is developed and a correlation for the Gained Output Ratio (GOR) as function of heating steam temperature, specific seawater mass flow and specific heat transfer surface of the desalination plant is deduced. This correlation is integrated into a model of a central receiver plant, comprising the heliostat field, a molten salt receiver system, two-tank storage and the steam cycle. A showcase simulation for the location Al-Kosseir, Egypt is performed to show the trade-off between electricity and water production for a cogeneration situation. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.