Parametric study of a desalination system powered by solar energy

Abstract

Water scarcity is an increasing global challenge, exacerbated by climate change, rapid urbanization, and growing agricultural demands. Desalination constitutes an essential solution; however, conventional technologies, are highly energy-intensive, with electricity consumption accounting for more than half of production costs. Therefore, it is crucial to develop more efficient desalination processes that integrate renewable energy sources. This research examines the feasibility of integrating solar thermal energy into multi-stage flash distillation (MSF) desalination systems to enhance their sustainability and reduce energy consumption. A hybrid system has been proposed, combining linear Fresnel collectors (LFC), thermal energy storage, fossil fuel backup, and a single-pass MSF configuration (MSF-OT), ensuring a stable top brine temperature (TBT) of 90 ‹C while optimizing land use. A numerical model was developed in MATLAB to evaluate the system's performance, considering solar irradiation, geometric configurations, and incidence angles. Additionally, the influence of MSF operational parameters, such as flow rates, top brine temperature, and the number of stages, on energy efficiency and freshwater production was analyzed. A comparative study was conducted on three coastal regions of Algeria, based on climatic variations and solar potential. The model was validated using data from the MSF plant in Kuwait and studies by El-Dessouky. Furthermore, environmental and economic assessments were carried out to analyze CO. emission reductions and the financial viability of the system. The impact of heat transfer improvements on energy efficiency was also studied. Finally, recommendations were formulated to enhance system reliability through automation, maintenance optimization, and the integration of hybrid energy sources.