Thermal Study of a Brackich Water Desalination Process using Solar Energy

The solar power potential of Algeria is huge and enormous. Solar energy is promising source for water desalination notably in the south regions of Algeria for fresh and drinking water providing. Solar thermal energy can be used to run thermal desalination plants such as multi-effect desalination processes (MED). In this work, solar collectors and Multi Effects desalination unit used to produce fresh water from brackish water have been proposed. Mathematic models based on energy and mass balances of various components of the MED plant (evaporator, condenser, flashing chamber) as well as for the parabolic trough collectors have been developed. The global model of the proposed system has been numerically solved and the results have been presented and analyzed. To validate the obtained simulations results, the plant performances are compared with the results available on the literature. The results show clearly that the solar MED technology may provide a key solution for freshwater deficit in the southern area of Algeria.