Hybrid Mechanical Vapor Compression and Membrane Distillation System: Concept and Analysis

The concept of integrating mechanical vapor compression (MVC) with direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) is presented and analyzed. The hybrid system utilizes the DCMD to harvest the thermal energy of the MVC reject brine to preheat a portion of the seawater intake and simultaneously produce a...

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Main Authors: Emad Ali, Jamel Orfi, Salim Mokraoui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Membranes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/3/69
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author Emad Ali
Jamel Orfi
Salim Mokraoui
author_facet Emad Ali
Jamel Orfi
Salim Mokraoui
author_sort Emad Ali
collection DOAJ
description The concept of integrating mechanical vapor compression (MVC) with direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) is presented and analyzed. The hybrid system utilizes the DCMD to harvest the thermal energy of the MVC reject brine to preheat a portion of the seawater intake and simultaneously produce additional fresh water. Based on the operating temperature, the hybrid system requires specific energy consumption between 9.6 to 24.3 kWh/m<sup>3</sup>, which is equivalent to 25 to 37% less than the standalone MVC. Similarly, the freshwater production of the hybrid system can range between 1.03 and 1.1 kg/h, which is equivalent to a 3% and 10% increase relative to the standalone MVC when operating at brine temperatures of 50 and 90 °C, respectively. However, this enhancement is achieved at the expense of an average of 60% larger total surface area. This is partially due to the incorporation of the surface area of the MD modules and mostly to reduced temperature differences. Altering the permeate-to-feed ratio of the DCMD module led to a marginal change in the overall production without any enhancement in the compression power consumption. Increasing the MD module length by 50% resulted in a 3% enlargement in the overall production rate and a 10% reduction in power consumption. A modified hybrid structure that additionally utilizes the distillate heat is sought. A 5% increase in water production at the expense of a 45% rise in the specific compression energy of the modified structure over the original hybrid system is obtained.
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spelling doaj-art-1c37e1fb72af43fc9e0d91c9b53c047a2025-08-20T01:48:41ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752025-02-011536910.3390/membranes15030069Hybrid Mechanical Vapor Compression and Membrane Distillation System: Concept and AnalysisEmad Ali0Jamel Orfi1Salim Mokraoui2Chemical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaMechanical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaChemical Engineering Department, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi ArabiaThe concept of integrating mechanical vapor compression (MVC) with direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) is presented and analyzed. The hybrid system utilizes the DCMD to harvest the thermal energy of the MVC reject brine to preheat a portion of the seawater intake and simultaneously produce additional fresh water. Based on the operating temperature, the hybrid system requires specific energy consumption between 9.6 to 24.3 kWh/m<sup>3</sup>, which is equivalent to 25 to 37% less than the standalone MVC. Similarly, the freshwater production of the hybrid system can range between 1.03 and 1.1 kg/h, which is equivalent to a 3% and 10% increase relative to the standalone MVC when operating at brine temperatures of 50 and 90 °C, respectively. However, this enhancement is achieved at the expense of an average of 60% larger total surface area. This is partially due to the incorporation of the surface area of the MD modules and mostly to reduced temperature differences. Altering the permeate-to-feed ratio of the DCMD module led to a marginal change in the overall production without any enhancement in the compression power consumption. Increasing the MD module length by 50% resulted in a 3% enlargement in the overall production rate and a 10% reduction in power consumption. A modified hybrid structure that additionally utilizes the distillate heat is sought. A 5% increase in water production at the expense of a 45% rise in the specific compression energy of the modified structure over the original hybrid system is obtained.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/3/69water desalinationmechanical vapor compressionmembrane distillationhybridelectrical energy consumption
spellingShingle Emad Ali
Jamel Orfi
Salim Mokraoui
Hybrid Mechanical Vapor Compression and Membrane Distillation System: Concept and Analysis
Membranes
water desalination
mechanical vapor compression
membrane distillation
hybrid
electrical energy consumption
title Hybrid Mechanical Vapor Compression and Membrane Distillation System: Concept and Analysis
title_full Hybrid Mechanical Vapor Compression and Membrane Distillation System: Concept and Analysis
title_fullStr Hybrid Mechanical Vapor Compression and Membrane Distillation System: Concept and Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Hybrid Mechanical Vapor Compression and Membrane Distillation System: Concept and Analysis
title_short Hybrid Mechanical Vapor Compression and Membrane Distillation System: Concept and Analysis
title_sort hybrid mechanical vapor compression and membrane distillation system concept and analysis
topic water desalination
mechanical vapor compression
membrane distillation
hybrid
electrical energy consumption
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/15/3/69
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AT jamelorfi hybridmechanicalvaporcompressionandmembranedistillationsystemconceptandanalysis
AT salimmokraoui hybridmechanicalvaporcompressionandmembranedistillationsystemconceptandanalysis