Performance analysis of mixed feed LT-MED desalination system with thermal vapor compressor

Abstract Seawater desalination has emerged as an important source of fresh water. Low-temperature multieffect distillation (LT-MED) is one of main methods of seawater desalination. LT-MED desalination system consists of a few types, such as forward feed confi guration, backward feed configuration, parallel feed confi guration and mixed feed configuration. Among them, the mixed feed configuration can process higher concentration ratio of seawater than that of the others and the spray density of this configuration can be easily designed to achieve a reasonable range which are important for operation. In this study, a mathematical model of mixed feed LT-MED desalination system with thermal vapor compressor (TVC) has been established based on the mass and energy conservation. In this model, the temperature losses are calculated in terms of boiling point elevation (BPE) of sea water and steam flow pressure drop during tube bundle, demisters and pipelines. To develop this model, the property parameters of seawa...