Design and computer simulation on multi-effect evaporation seawater desalination system using hybrid renewable energy sources in Turkey

The present work outlines the design and computer simulation on Multi-Effect Evaporation Forward-Feed (MEE-FF) seawater desalination system using hybrid Renewable Energy Sources (solar and wind) in Turkey. It will serve as a feasibility and applicability study on Multi-Effect Evaporation seawater desalination system in 18 stations. A simulation program was built in Visual Basic programming language in order to perform this study. Hourly values of solar radiation flux on horizontal surface, ambient temperatures, wind velocities and seawater temperatures which have been measured for ten years (1997 to 2007) used for 18 stations, have taken from the Turkish State Meteorological Service to obtain more reliable and realistic simulation results. Mathematical modelings of MEE-FF seawater desalination system, flat-plate collector and wind turbine were made. The system model includes the basic thermodynamics laws, continuity equations, heat transfer equations and the thermodynamics relations. A system was designed and the design criteria for all sub-systems were developed for providing the interconnections among these sub-systems. Simulation results of the developed mathematical models were compared with literature and yielded satisfactory results. On the other hand, the feasibility comparisons of the stations were made from the point of renewable energy potential. Mersin and Çanakkale had the highest solar energy and wind energy potential, respectively among 18 stations.