REDUCTION OF POWER REQUIREMENTS FOR MSF DESALINATION PLANTS - THE EXAMPLE OF AL-TAWEELAH-B

Power consumption for MSF plants has typically been ranging from 7 to 5 kWh/kJ of distillate. This value amounts to about 6% of the net ener gy heat input to the desalination plant; moreover, since the heat inpu t to the desalination plant is customary at very low temperature (120- 140 degrees C), the exergetic content of the steam feed is very low. T he percentage of exergy consumed for the electric utilities with respe ct to the heat input is therefore higher, and consequently becomes mor e stringent the necessity to optimize the electric power consumption. This paper aims at analyzing the design aspects which lead to optimizi ng the power consumption in MSF plants and, through the experience of Al Taweelah in comparison with other plants, at giving guidelines for the design of other plants.