The standard module philosophy for multi-stage flash/fluidized bed evaporation: a new approach in desalination

Abstract This newly developed multi-stage flash principle enables the application of one single standard module for the design of complete plants covering a wide range of distillate production and/or heat consumption. In this paper, it will be shown that the multi-stage flash/fluidized bed evaporator suits the standard module philosophy very well because of the following plant characteristics: • this type of plant can operate in a “once-through” cycle up to relatively high maximum brine temperatures without adding any chemicals to the feed; • the liquid velocities in the condenser tubes can be varied over a large range by changing the bed porosity, particle size and density of the particle material; • the very compact construction of the plant which is a result of the small flash chamber dimensions.