Innovative integration of a series-module membrane distillation plant with a double-effect absorption refrigerator

Abstract

This study investigates the powering of a series-multistage membrane distillation (DCMD) plant by the heat released from absorber and condenser of a double-effect vapor-absorption refrigerator (VAR). In such a way, two products (freshwater and cooling effect) are obtained with low energy consumption. The feed of the DCMD plant is split to cool the VAR condenser and absorber and get sufficient heat to drive the series-module DCMD plant. Under the applied conditions, the proposed system shows performance better than the standalone VAR and DCMD systems. Also, series-multistage DCMD performs better than the parallel one suggested in the literature under the same operating conditions. The optimal performance indices show that the produced water is 1443 L/h, the cooling capacity is 123.4 ton of refrigeration (TR), the coefficient of performance (COP) is 1.09, the gained output ratio (GOR) is 2.42, the overall energy efficiency (energy utilization factor, EUF) is 3.50, the freshwater cost is 3.87 $/m3, and the cooling effect cost is 0.0047 $/kWh.

Keywords

• Series modules
• DCMD
• VAR
• Water production
• Cooling effect
• Coupling