Optimal Multiscale Capacity Planning in Seawater Desalination Systems

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Optimal Multiscale Capacity Planning in Seawater Desalination Systems

Optimal Multiscale Capacity Planning in Seawater Desalination Systems

Hassan Baaqeel and Mahmoud M. El-Halwagi 

Abstract

The increasing demands for water and the dwindling resources of fresh water create a critical need for continually enhancing desalination capacities. This poses a challenge in distressed desalination network, with incessant water demand growth as the conventional approach of undertaking large expansion projects can lead to low utilization and, hence, low capital productivity. In addition to the option of retrofitting existing desalination units or installing additional grassroots units, there is an opportunity to include emerging modular desalination technologies.

This paper develops the optimization framework for the capacity planning in distressed desalination networks considering the integration of conventional plants and emerging modular technologies, such as membrane distillation (MD), as a viable option for capacity expansion. The developed framework addresses the multiscale nature of the synthesis problem, as unit-specific decision variables are subject to optimization, as well as the multiperiod capacity planning of the system.

A superstructure representation and optimization formulation are introduced to simultaneously optimize the staging and sizing of desalination units, as well as design and operating variables in the desalination network over a planning horizon. Additionally, a special case for multiperiod capacity planning in multiple effect distillation (MED) desalination systems is presented.

An optimization approach is proposed to solve the mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) optimization problem, starting with the construction of a project-window interval, pre-optimization screening, modeling of screened configurations, intra-process design variables optimization, and finally, multiperiod flowsheet synthesis. A case study is solved to illustrate the usefulness of the proposed approach.  
Keywords : desalination; multi-effect distillation; membrane distillation; process integration; optimization; scheduling

Processes   2018 ,  6 (6), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr6060068

Baaqeel, H.; El-Halwagi, M.M. Optimal Multiscale Capacity Planning in Seawater Desalination Systems.  Processes   2018 ,  6 , 68.

Source: MDPI

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  1.     I am really puzzled and confused: Who are the inhabitants of our planet Earth???

        The Creator of our universe implemented 2 systems to feed and avail potable water for all His creatures.

        1- To feed all His creatures The Lord availed CO2 in air to be absorbed by the green chlorophyll in every plant under sun light and splited into carbon which is used by every plant to produce for us all our needs of food and clothing, and oxygen which is needed for our respiration.

        However our beloved human beings twisted the facts claiming that CO2 in air is now a nuisance causing climate change.

        2- To avail potable water The Lord used room temperature evaporated water from the surface of every water body (oceans, seas, lakes), collected it in clouds, then clouds are pushed towards land by wind, next cold weather initiates rain, last rain water is collected into rivers, and all creatures are receiving their needs of potable water.

          Simple and clear in front of every eye, yet our wonderful, supernatural human beings referred to all the possible ignorant processes, making sure they will never ever refer to room temperature evaporation used by The Creator. Room Temperature Evaporation is the only physical phenomenon which does not need any supply of external energy to separate pure water from any saline water.

          No wonder dear beloved human beings that we established poverty, misery, and darkness upon ourselves.