A QUARTER-CENTURY OF SEAWATER DESALINATION BY LARGE MULTISTAGE FLASH PLANTS IN ABU-DHABI - PLANT PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS, ASSESSMENT, PRESENT EFFORTS TOWARD ENHANCEMENT AND FUTURE HOPES

This paper reviews some important aspects of performance of several la rge-scale multistage flash (MSF) seawater desalination plants, based o n the operational experience over the past quarter-century in the Emir ate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It discusses certain factors w hich influence plant performance, availability and economy in the ligh t of the methods of current practice based on the observations made, t he analysis carried out and the insight gained over the long period of operational experience. Arising out of this discussion are some sgges tions for future research, design and development of MSF plants with t he long-term objective of rendering them robust, reliable, economical, and intelligently automated for plant wide measurement, monitoring, a ssessment, optimization, control, diagnosis and care.