THERMOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF MULTI STAGE FLASH- THERMAL VAPOR COMPRESSSION (MSF-TVC) DESALINATION PROCESS

This work presents the design and thermoeconomic analysis of a proposed multi stage flash-thermal vapor compression MSF-TVC system. The proposed MSF-TVC system is analyzed and investigated under different operat ing conditions by using the thermoeconomic methodology. The optimum operating conditions of the proposed system is achieved at 6 kPa entrained pressure, top brine temperature110oC, splitter ratio equal to 0.28. Under these conditions the uni t product cost is calculated by 2.15 $/m 3 . The comparison between the proposed MSF-TVC system and the conventional MSF system showed that the gain ratio of the MSF-TVC system is 96% higher than that of the conventional MSF brine circ ulation plant. The heat transfer area of the MSF-TVC is 52 % higher than the conventional MSF. The exergetic efficiency of the MSF-TVC system is 46 % higher than that of the MSF system. The unit product cost of the MSF-TVC system is 19 % lower than that of the conventional brine circulation multi stage flash (MSF-BR) system.