The solar thermal desalination research project at the Plataforma Solar de Almeria

✍ Scribed by A. Gregorzewski; K. Genthner; E. Zarza; J. Leon; J. de Gunzbourg; G. Alefeld; J. Scharfe

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 510 KB
• Volume: 82
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0011-9164
• DOI: 10.1016/0011-9164(91)85177-v

✦ Synopsis

The solar energy launched a joint desalination early research center "Plataforma Solar de Almeria" in Spain Spanish and german research project on solar thermal 1988. Since solar desalination is presently not commercially competitive, the aim of this project was to contribute to an optimization of such a system. Presently the experimental installation comprises a 14-effect, stack mounted ME-distiller unit with horizontal tube spray type evaporator cells, comissioned by ENTROPIE (France) in May 1988. The distiller is linked to a parabolic through collector field and a thermocline tank by a low pressure steam generator. Alternatively the distiller can be operated with high pressure steam from a solar power station driving a steam-ejector system for heat recovery.

In 1991 the configuration will be extended by introducing an absorption heat pump between the heat input and the rejection end of the distiller. The heat pump will be a double-effect H,O/LiBr-type adapted to this particular application, boosting the plant performance ratio from presently PR = 10.5