Multi-Effect Distillation

Multiple Effect Distillation (MED)

IDE has been internationally recognized as a pioneer and market leader in the delivery of Thermal Distillation plants since its foundation in 1965. MED plants utilize low grade input steam to produce distillate. The MED unit is comprised of a train of horizontal tubes and falling-film evaporativecondensers, with a heat rejection condenser at the end. Distillate is produced in the MED unit through repetitive steps of evaporation and condensation, each at a lower temperature and pressure - hence a multiple quantity of distillate is obtained from a given quantity of input steam. The combination of unparalleled thermal efficiency, low temperature operation, minimal scaling, easy capacity regulation, stable automated operation and the ability to utilize low grade, low cost energy sources makes IDE MED the most cost efficient seawater desalination unit available.

IDE MED:
MED units are powered by heat from very low pressure (0.25 to 0.35 ata) steam or hot water sources above 60C. Where higher steam pressure (over 2.0 ata) is available, the plant can be supplied with a thermal vapor compression (TVC) unit. Use of a steam jet thermo-compressor to recycle part of the vapor in the MED unit further increases its thermal efficiency. IDE MED units are available with capacities of up to 25,000 cu.m/day in a single unit, with larger capacities being realized by multiple unit installations. Low Temperature Seawater Distillation Low Pressure Steam Driven (Optional: Cogeneration Scheme / Waste Heat Recovery) Simple and Economical Operation and Maintenance High Quality Product (5 ppm-TDS) Capacities: 600 - 25,000 cubic-meter/ day per unit

The MED process

Any number of evaporative-condensers (effects) may be incorporated in the plants heat recovery sections, depending on the temperature / pressure and cost of the available heat and the optimal trade-off point between investment and steam cost economy. Technically the number of effects is limited only by the temperature difference between the steam and seawater inlet temperatures (defining the hot and cold ends of the unit) and the minimum temperature differential allowed on each effect. The incoming seawater is de-aerated and preheated in the heat rejection condenser, and then divided into two streams. One stream is discharged as

2 x MED-6,000 Kazakhstan MAEK units

4 x MED-25,000 Tianjin, China

coolant (eg, back to the sea), and the other becomes feed for the distillation process. The feed is pretreated with a scale inhibiting additive and introduced into the lowest temperature group of heat recovery effects. A spray nozzle system distributes it over the top rows of tubes in each effect, where it flows in thin films down each bank of tubes. Part of the feed vaporizes as it absorbs the latent heat released by steam condensing inside the tubes. The remaining feed, now slightly concentrated, is pumped to the next group of effects, which operate at higher temperatures. The spray and evaporation process is repeated there. The remaining feed is pumped onward again until it leaves the hottest group of effects as concentrated brine. The production capacity of the MED unit is proportional to, and inherently follows, the motive steam input. Therefore the MED unit production rate can be varied automatically by regulating the steam input rate. For instance, in dual purpose installations (power and water product), the system will produce maximum quantities of fresh water during peak demand periods up to 110% of the nominal rated output. During non-peak hours of

production, the MED unit can turn down to as low as 65% of its nominal capacity without operator intervention, and the surplus steam may then be used for increased electrical energy production. The input motive steam is fed into the tubes of the hottest effect where it condenses, releasing its latent heat to the saline water flowing over the outer surface of the tubes. While condensation (of steam/vapor) takes place on the inside of the tubes, there is an almost equal amount of evaporation (of seawater) on the outside. In order to maintain distillate purity, after passing

through the brine droplet separator the vapor is drawn into the tubes of the next effect, which operate at slightly lower temperature and pressure. The evaporation-condensation process is repeated along the entire series of effects, each of which contributes a significant amount of additional distillate. The entire amount of vapor obtained from the last effect is condensed by seawater coolant in a heat rejection condenser.

MED and TVC process schematic

Heat Recovery Evaporator Effects Recycle Vapor High Pressure Steam Heat Rejection Condenser High Pressure Steam NCG Seawater High Pressure Steam (for a TVC Plant)

Low Pressure Steam (for a MED Plant)

Condensate Tank

Fresh Water Brine Condensate Return Pump Scale Inhibitor Coolant Feed Pump

Intermediate Feed Pump

The condensate from the first effect is collected, and part of the distillate (equal to the amount of steam observed by the MED unit) is returned to the steam generator. The excess distillate, above the original quantity of motive steam, flows into the first of a series of special chambers, each ducted to the cooler condensing section of the next effect. Part of the distillate flashes off, cooling the remaining product stream, while returning the heat given off to the main body of heat recovery effects. The product stream is thus cascaded and flash-cooled in stages. The heat that is released increases the total efficiency of the process. The cooled distillate is finally discharged to storage by the product delivery pump.
HIGHPRESS URESTEAM

The concentrated brine from the hottest effect is, like the distillate, cascaded through a series of brine flash tanks and flash-cooled to recover its heat. After cooling, it is returned to the sea via the brine pump. Non-Condensable Gases (NCG) are bled from each tube, and then join the vapor flowing from one effect to the next, eventually reaching the condenser. From there the NCG are concentrated inside the heat rejection condenser at the cooler end of the MED and evacuated by a steam jet ejector or mechanical vacuum pumps.

EXTRACTION STEAM

TO PROCESS
EXHAUST GASES

TURBINE GEN.
MED DESALINATION PLANT
HRSG FUEL EXTRACTION STEAM STEAMTU RBINE TO PROCESS

BACK PRESSURE STEAM

PRODUCT

GEN.

MED DESALINATION PLANT

GAS TURBINE

BACK PRESSURE STEAM PRODUCT CONDENSATE RETURN TO BOILER

CONDENSATE RETURN TO BOILER

SEA WATER INTAKE

SEA WATER INTAKE

BACK PRESSURE STEAM (0.25-0.35 BARA) For very large, dual purpose applications ranging from 50 to 500 MW and 20,000 to 200,000 tons/day of water.

BACK PRESSURE STEAM FROM COMBINED CYCLE This scheme is the optimal solution for IPP and/or Re-powering projects. Where combined cycles are applicable ranging from 50 to 600 MW, the installation of 10,000 to 160,000 ton/day of water (respectively) is possible.

SYSTEM AT 8 ATA

EXHAUST GASES

SYSTEM AT 8 ATA

EXHAUST GASES

MED DESALINATION PLANT

RECYCLE VAPOR W.H. BOILER DIESEL ENGINE

MED DESALINATION PLANT

RECYCLE VAPOR HRSG FUEL

STEAM JETTHERMOCOMPRESSOR FEED CONDENSATE COOLINGW ATER HEAT EX. COOLING WATER MEVC-DIESEL SYSTEM DIESEL ENGINE LUB. AIRCOOLER OILCOOLER S.W. PUMP FEED

STEAM JETTHERMOCOMPRESSOR CONDENSATE

GAS TURBINE

S.W. PUMP

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

COOLANT & BRINE OUT

COOLANT & BRINE OUT

WASTE HEAT FROM DIESEL ENGINE The MED will draw the motive energy from the waste heat recovered from the exhaust gases and the water cooling system of a diesel engine.

WASTE HEAT FROM GAS TURBINE Motive steam produced at the HRSG is used to activate a thermocompressor, thus increasing the economy ratio of the desalination plant.

TVC Thermal Vapor compression

Thermal Vapor Compression plants utilize the MED system together with a steam jet compressor. They are designed for projects where relatively high steam pressure of 2 to 10 ata. is available. Due to the relatively high cost of this steam, a large number of evaporation condenser heat recovery effects are normally justified. Optimal MED units have the thermo-compressor operating across six or eight, of a total of anywhere up to fifteen, heat recovery effects. As a result, MED-TVC plants feature superior efficiency, able to achieve a Gain Operation Ratio GOR (a measure of energy efficiency) of 15 tons distillate produced for each ton of motive steam.

Extraction steam operation at anywhere from 2 to 10 ata: This scheme is applicable where the plant operates with an existing turbine, designed to supply 2- 10 ata. extraction steam (eg, for an obsolete high temperature MSF plant). Two options are possible: A TVC plant with a GOR in the range of 12 to 15, or a MED plant fitted with an auxiliary low pressure steam turbine. The MED plant operating with low grade steam/heat offers superior economics, but even the TVC plant, which consumes higher pressure steam,

MED and TVC Economics

The ability of low temperature distillation plants to make effective use of low cost, low grade heat, or even zero cost waste heat - where available - maximizes the reduction of the energy cost component of these plants. Consequently, lower water production costs can be obtained than with any other seawater desalination system. Low grade heat is available through cogeneration schemes with steam turbine, diesel generator and gas turbine power plants. The low grade heat is obtained through waste heat recovery from industrial cooling waters and exhaust gases, solid waste incinerators, solar ponds and geothermal waters. will have lower operating costs than equivalent Seawater Reverse Osmosis plants. MED with an auxiliary turbo-generator: Another type of application, which expands the 210 ata extraction steam in an auxiliary turbo-generator down to the 0.35 ata pressure required for MED plant operation, will generate about 8 kWh of electric power per ton of distilled water as a by-product. This power will cover approximately the 1.2 kWh/ton required for MED process pumping, and the net saleable power exported will contribute anywhere from 15 to 60 US/ton, depending on the external selling price for power. The cost of energy with extraction steam operation will be limited, as with back pressure turbine operation, to the cost of additional fuel consumed in order to generate the marginal quantity of throttle steam that is required to maintain the same net power output. For the TVC plant option, the specific fuel consumption will be about 1.5 kg/ton of product water. For the MED unit with an auxiliary turbine scheme the specific fuel consumption will be about 2.2 kg/ton of product water. This fuel cost will, however, be somewhat offset by the benefit from the sale of by-product power.

2 x MED - 17,500 units, Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain

Steam cogeneration schemes

Low grade steam operation at anywhere from 0.3 to 0.4 ata: Low temperature MED plants permit further expansion of the steam in the turbine and minimize the losses in its heat rate, compared to high temperature distillation plants that require motive steam of 2 to 3 ata., There will be no loss of power output with this scheme if turbine throttle steam input is increased to compensate for back pressure operation. The cost of energy for the desalination process will be limited to the marginal cost of fuel consumed to generate the additional quantity of steam required to maintain the same net power output. For back pressure steam MED plants, the specific fuel consumption will be in the range of 1.2 to 1.7 kg only per ton of product water.

Diesel cogeneration schemes

In diesel generator cogeneration schemes, most of the waste heat discharged by the diesel (through its exhaust gases, jacket water and lube oil cooling and if necessary, also from charge air cooling) will be recovered. This heat represents about 40-50% of the diesel fuel heat content, increasing overall thermal efficiency to over 80%. 200 250 tons/day of distillate can be generated entirely by such waste heat, for each MW of daily diesel generator load. The energy costs of a TVC plant combined with the diesel generator will be limited to the 1.8 2.5 kWh/ton required for process and heat recovery pumping. Gas Turbine and solid waste incinerators will operate with waste heat boilers, and, preferably, an intermediate steam turbine to generate by-product power. Heated industrial coolant streams and solar and geothermal brines will most likely have their heat recovered and transferred, through plate type heat exchangers, to an intermediate, recycled brine stream to avoid product contamination. Back pressure steam (0.25-0.35 Bara) For very large, dual purpose applications ranging from 50 to 500 MW and 20,000 to 200,000 tons/ day of water. Back pressure steam from combined cycle This scheme is the optimal solution for IPP and/or re-powering projects. Combined cycles are applicable ranging from 50 to 600 MW and 10,000 to 160,000 ton/day of water (respectively). Waste heat from diesel engine The MED unit will draw the motive energy from the waste heat recovered from the exhaust gases and the water cooling system of a diesel engine. Waste heat from gas turbine Motive steam produced at the HRSG is used to activate a Thermo-compressor (TVC), thus increasing the economy ratio of the desalination plant.
3 x MED-5,000 unit US Virgin Islands (WAPA)

4 x MED-24,000 RELIANCE Jamnagar Site

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