The research on thermal and economic performance of solar desalination system with evacuated tube collectors

Abstract In this paper, a solar desalination system with evacuated tube collectors (ETCs) and low-temperature multi-effect distillation (LT-MED) is developed. It solves the problem of shortage of fresh water, while it also avoids the consumption of non-renewable energy resource and environmental pollution. The system configurations designed consist of ETCs, heat storage tank, flash tank, multi-effect distillation, electrical heating and cooling, and so on. Mathematical and economic models are established based on mass and energy conservation, and the thermal and the economic performance of the solar desalination system is analyzed by utilizing MATLAB. In this paper, the fresh water cost reduces with both the increasing of the area of ETCs and collector outlet water temperature. Recommendations given in this paper could be helpful in future initiatives regarding the research and development of this promising solar desalination technology.