TY - JOUR
T1 - Optimization and design analysis of multistage water gap membrane distillation for cost-effective desalination
AU - Alawad, Suhaib M.
AU - Lawal, Dahiru U.
AU - Khalifa, Atia E.
AU - Aljundi, Isam H.
AU - Antar, Mohamed A.
AU - Baroud, Turki N.
AU - Eltoum, M. A.Mohammed
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2023/11/15
Y1 - 2023/11/15
N2 - This study presents an analysis of a detailed theoretical model and optimization of a novel large-scale multistage water gap membrane distillation (WGMD) unit with an internal gap propeller. The developed mathematical model is coupled with a differential evolution (DE) algorithm for the optimization of the gap design variables and the system operating parameters. The gap design variables, including the propeller thickness, speed, location, thermal conductivity, and diameter, are optimized and used in multi-stage analysis for investigating the effect of different operating parameters such as feed temperature, feed flowrate, and coolant temperature. The optimized results indicate that a thinner propeller, a larger propeller diameter, a higher propeller revolution, and higher propeller thermal conductivity enhance the system productivity, the gained output ratio (GOR), and the product cost. The parallel arrangement shows a higher production rate of 1738 L/h, a higher GOR of 0.5314, and a lower freshwater cost of $1.027/m3. A mean improvement of about 28.9 %, 12.4 %, 2.4 %, and 28.9 % in productivity, GOR, cost, and recovery ratio (RR), respectively, is registered by the optimization model when compared to no optimization. Additionally, operating the system at the ambient cooling stream improves the system's GOR but decreases its productivity. Furthermore, low feed salinity with a cooling energy attained superior productivity, GOR, recovery ratio, and freshwater cost in comparison to high feed salinity with an ambient cooling stream.
AB - This study presents an analysis of a detailed theoretical model and optimization of a novel large-scale multistage water gap membrane distillation (WGMD) unit with an internal gap propeller. The developed mathematical model is coupled with a differential evolution (DE) algorithm for the optimization of the gap design variables and the system operating parameters. The gap design variables, including the propeller thickness, speed, location, thermal conductivity, and diameter, are optimized and used in multi-stage analysis for investigating the effect of different operating parameters such as feed temperature, feed flowrate, and coolant temperature. The optimized results indicate that a thinner propeller, a larger propeller diameter, a higher propeller revolution, and higher propeller thermal conductivity enhance the system productivity, the gained output ratio (GOR), and the product cost. The parallel arrangement shows a higher production rate of 1738 L/h, a higher GOR of 0.5314, and a lower freshwater cost of $1.027/m3. A mean improvement of about 28.9 %, 12.4 %, 2.4 %, and 28.9 % in productivity, GOR, cost, and recovery ratio (RR), respectively, is registered by the optimization model when compared to no optimization. Additionally, operating the system at the ambient cooling stream improves the system's GOR but decreases its productivity. Furthermore, low feed salinity with a cooling energy attained superior productivity, GOR, recovery ratio, and freshwater cost in comparison to high feed salinity with an ambient cooling stream.
KW - Cost analysis
KW - Differential evolution algorithm
KW - Membrane distillation
KW - Optimization
KW - Water desalination
KW - Water gap
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85167434615&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.desal.2023.116894
DO - 10.1016/j.desal.2023.116894
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85167434615
SN - 0011-9164
VL - 566
JO - Desalination
JF - Desalination
M1 - 116894
ER -