Abstract
A scheme of a membrane distillation unit with the possibility of using solar energy collectors has been proposed for treatment of water-salt solutions. This scheme has been tested in the Simulink (MATLAB) simulation environment using a seawater desalination process as a model system. Based on solar radiation data received in Vietnam, a distillation process has been simulated using a solar collector and an electric heater. Experimental approbation of the model has been carried out by the desalination of a NaCl solution by membrane distillation with a porous condenser. The calculated productivity of the modeled system agrees with the obtained experimental data. Simulation showed the possibility of reducing energy consumption by 61% in the process of desalination of an aqueous solution of NaCl using low-grade heat.