The Natural Vacuum Desalination Technology in Seawater Desalination

Abstract:

Seawater desalination technology is an important way to solve the freshwater shortage problem. Natural vacuum desalination (NVD) technology generates very low pressure environment in the headspace of 10 meters high water column. The weight of the water column is balanced by atmospheric pressure, and low-temperature desalination proceeds in the headspace. NVD technology drives the desalination process without any mechanical pumping, and requires relatively inferior quality of device material and simple structures. In this paper, the basic theory of NVD technology is introduced and physical model is described. Research progresses of different types of NVD technologies are summarized, and the method of increasing freshwater production is pointed out. This paper also illustrates the outlook on future development of NVD technology.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 675-677)
• Pages: 851-855
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.675-677.851
• Online since: October 2014
• Authors: Xiao Hua Liu, Xin Chun Zhang, Ya Qin Fang, Ming Ming Zhu
• Keywords: Freshwater Production, Natural Vacuum Desalination (NVD), Seawater Desalination

References

[1] W. Shi-chang: The exergetic efficiency of MSF process and the conditions of desalination by waste heat, Desalination, Vol. 44 (1983), p.39.

DOI: 10.1016/0011-9164(83)87099-4

[2] J. De Gunzbourg and D. Larger: Cogeneration applied to very high efficiency thermal seawater desalination plants, Desalination, Vol. 125 (1999), p.203.

DOI: 10.1016/s0011-9164(99)00139-3

[3] G. Kronenberg and F. Lokiec: Low-temperature distillation processes in single-and dual-purpose plants, Desalination, Vol. 136 (2001), p.189.

DOI: 10.1016/s0011-9164(01)00181-3

[4] A. Midilli and T. Ayhan: Natural vacuum distillation technique—part I: theory and basics, International journal of energy research, Vol. 28 (2004), p.355.

DOI: 10.1002/er.970

[5] K.S. Spiegler: Salt-water purification, Plenum Press, (1977).

[6] V.G. Gude and N. Nirmalakhandan: Combined desalination and solar-assisted air-conditioning system, Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 49 (2008), p.3326.

DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2008.03.030

[7] G. Bemporad: Basic hydrodynamic aspects of a solar energy based desalination process, Solar Energy, Vol. 54 (1995), p.125.

DOI: 10.1016/0038-092x(94)00110-y

[8] A. Midilli and T. Ayhan: Natural vacuum distillation technique—part II: Experimental investigation, International journal of energy research, Vol. 28 (2004), p.373.

DOI: 10.1002/er.969

[9] T. Ayhan and H. Al Madani: Feasibilty study of renewable energy powered seawater desalination technology using natural vacuum technique, Renewable energy, Vol. 35 (2010) p.506.

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2009.06.021

[10] S. Al-Kharabsheh: Analysis of an innovative water desalination system using low-grade solar heat, Desalination, Vol. 156 (2003), p.323.

DOI: 10.1016/s0011-9164(03)00363-1

[11] S. Kalogirou: Survey of solar desalination systems and system selection, Energy, Vol. 22 (1997) p.69.

[12] S. Al-Kharabsheh and D.Y. Goswami: Experimental study of an innovative solar water desalination system utilizing a passive vacuum technique, Solar Energy, Vol. 75 (2003) p.395.

DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2003.08.031

[13] M. Abutayeh and D.Y. Goswami: Solar flash desalination under hydrostatically sustained vacuum, Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 131 (2009), p.031016.

DOI: 10.1115/1.3142724

[14] M. Abutayeh and D.Y. Goswami: Passive vacuum solar flash desalination, AIChE journal, Vol. 56 (2010), p.1196.

DOI: 10.1002/aic.12060

[15] Y. Keren, H. Rubin, J. Atkinson, M. Priven and G. Bemporad: Theoretical and experimental comparison of conventional and advanced solar pond performance, Solar Energy, Vol. 51 (1993), p.255.

DOI: 10.1016/0038-092x(93)90121-4

[16] S. Al-Kharabsheh and D.Y. Goswami: Theoretical analysis of a water desalination system using low grade solar heat, Journal of solar energy engineering, Vol. 126 (2004), p.774.

DOI: 10.1115/1.1669450

[17] E. Krell: Handbook of laboratory distillation, Elsevier, (1982).

[18] V.G. Gude and N. Nirmalakhandan: Desalination using low-grade heat sources, Journal of Energy Engineering, Vol. 134 (2008), p.95.

DOI: 10.1061/(asce)0733-9402(2008)134:3(95)

[19] V.G. Gude and N. Nirmalakhandan: Desalination at low temperatures and low pressures, Desalination, Vol. 244 (2009), p.239.

DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2008.06.005

[20] V.G. Gude and N. Nirmalakhandan: Sustainable desalination using solar energy, Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 51 (2010), p.2245.

DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2010.03.019

[21] V.G. Gude, N. Nirmalakhandan and S. Deng: Desalination using solar energy: Towards sustainability, Energy, Vol. 36 (2011), p.78.

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2010.11.008

[22] V.G. Gude, N. Nirmalakhandan and S. Deng: Low temperature process to recover impaired waters, Desalination and Water Treatment, Vol. 20 (2010), p.281.

DOI: 10.5004/dwt.2010.1613

[23] V.G. Gude, N. Nirmalakhandan, S. Deng and A. Maganti: Low temperature desalination using solar collectors augmented by thermal energy storage, Applied Energy, Vol. 91 (2012), p.466.

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.10.018

[24] V.G. Gude, N. Nirmalakhandan, S. Deng and A. Maganti: Feasibility study of a new two-stage low temperature desalination process, Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 56 (2012), p.192.

DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2011.11.026

[25] B.A. Moore, E. Martinson and D. Raviv: Waste to water: a low energy water distillation method, Desalination, Vol. 220 (2008) p.502.

DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2007.01.050