Evaluation of the efficiency of integrating a steam compression combined heat transformer into the thermal scheme of a gas-contact desalination plant

During the operation of desalination plants of various principles, negative environmental impacts occur, firstly due to emissions of combustion products formed as a result of burning primary fuel required for the energy supply of the desalination process, and secondly due to emissions of concentrate, which is a solution of salts and minerals. Addressing the environmental problems associated with the operation of desalination plants is an urgent task. One possible solution is the development of energy-efficient installations in which brine is evaporated to a dry residue state, representing a commercially viable product. Since thermal desalination plants require heat removal for condensation of water vapor and supply of higher-potential thermal energy for the evaporation process, integrating heat transformers into the thermal schemes of desalination plants is promising. The authors have developed a thermal scheme of a gas-contact desalination plant, integrated with a steam compression heat transformer (HT). The influence of the working agent type on the performance indicators of the HT within the desalination plant was studied, and various HT energy carriers were analyzed. The highest transformation coefficient with the lowest compressor energy consumption is achieved when operating with the R600a working agent. Key performance indicators of the HT were calculated for different bubbling and drying temperatures of the steam-air mixture. The distribution of the working agent flow between the HT condensers was determined. It was established that the most efficient operating mode of the plant occurs at a heat lift height of 15°C. The developed technical solution for isobutane-based HT is effective at seawater salinity not exceeding 20 g/l.

1. Kozlova M. V., Bannikov A. V., Bannikova S. A. Investigation of the operation of a thermal desalination plant with a contact evaporator and compression of a vapor-air mixture. Bulletin of the Ivanovo State Power Engineering University 2024, 5: 21 – 30.

2. Babenko K. A., Kagramanov G. G., Blanco-Pedrejon A. M. Desalination of seawater: trends, experience and development prospects in the Russian Federation. Water Supply and Sanitary Engineering 2024, 6: 13 – 21.

3. Efficient solar desalination plants in Uzbekistan. T. A. Fayziev, B. N. Sattorov, S. U. Mirzayarova, M. M. U. Khidirov. Agricultural machinery and energy supply 2022, 4(37): 26 – 31.

4. Environmental impact of desalination processes: Mitigation and control strategies. K . Elsaid, E. T. Sayed, M. A. Abdelkareem, A. Baroutaji, A. G. Olabi. Sci Total Environ 2020 Oct 20; 740: 140125.

5. Agamaliev M. M., Akhmedova D. A., Mammadbekova R. G. Investigation of the effectiveness of integrating an absorption heat pump into a system of thermal desalination of seawater. Norwegian Journal of Development of the International Science 2020, 42 – 1: 44 – 50.

6. Experimental study of an energy technology complex for desalination of seawater based on a heat pump. Part 1. Heat pump. K. V. Osintsev, O. Y. Kornyakova, Ya. S. Bolkov, V. O. Konchakov, A. M. Karelin Bulletin of the South Ural State University. Series: Energy 2024, 24: 59 – 69.

7. Atmospheric Water Generation Using Peltier Effect – A Review. Neha Sharma, Shubhani Kapoor, Rachit Khandelwal, Mrs. J. S. Morbale. International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering, Technology and Science 2021; 3(7): 1 – 3.

8. Investigation of the effect of the scale formation process in preheating heat exchangers of a distillation desalination plant on their operation efficiency / E. V. Blagin, A. A. Shimanov, M. Yu. Anisimov et al. // Bulletin of the International Academy of Refrigeration 2019, 2: 37 – 42.

9. Kozlova M. V., Sokolov P. S., Bannikov A. V. Investigation of the influence of real physical properties of moist air on the accuracy of calculation of heat and mass transfer processes. Bulletin of the Ivanovo State Power Engineering University 2020, 4: 5 – 13.

10. Cold supply – Ivanovo: V. M. Zakharov, N. N. Smirnov, S. A. Bannikova, M. V. Kozlova. Ivanovo State Power Engineering University named after V. I. Lenin 2023,: 1 – 276.

11. Modeling of climate changes and variations in atmospheric ozone from 1980 to 2020 using the SOCOLv3 chemical and climatic model / M. A. Usacheva, S. P. Smyshlyaev, V. A. Zubov, E. V. Rozanov // Optics of the atmosphere and Ocean 2024, 37 (421): 158 – 162.