OPEN MULTIPLE EFFECT DESALINATION WITH LOW-TEMPERATURE PROCESS HEAT

Design and in demonstration units proven conception of a desalination system are presented: an ambient pressure, free convection operated counter-current process of evaporation and condensation achieves in a two-stage version a gained-output-ratio of about 6, i.e., about 115 kWh thermal process heat of 85-degrees-C are sufficient for the production of 1 m3 fresh water. The construction is simple and maintenance easy. The fresh water production cost is estimated to be 2 US$/m3 which includes only investment capital interest of the present demonstration unit. Auxiliary energy is limited to pumping of the saline water through the (plastic) heat exchanger tubing to the top of the about 250 cm high desalination tower.