Global optimal synthesis of integrated hybrid desalination plants

MARIAN MARCOVECCHIO,; SERGIO MUSSATI,; NICOLÁS J. SCENNA; AGUIRRE PIO

Computer Aided Chemical Engineering

Elsevier

Año: 2009; p. 573 - 578

Seawater desalination is one of the main alternatives to overcome the problem of fresh water supply. Thermal and membrane processes are the conventional technologies widely used to obtain potable water from the sea. Hybrid desalination plants integrating reverse osmosis (RO) and multi stage flash (MSF) systems result interesting alternatives. The hybrid systems combine the advantages of the high separation efficiency of thermal processes with the low energy consumption of reverse osmosis. These systems reduce dramatically the final fresh water cost; meanwhile the recovery ratio is increased. In the present work, a mathematical model for MSF and RO hybrid systems is derived on energy, mass and momentum balances meanwhile the most important aspect of the processes are introduced. Precisely, a superstructure is proposed embedding alternative and feasible arrangements for hybrid plants that will be simultaneously optimized.