Abstract

A solar-assisted thermal desalination system (2) comprising: a thermal desalination plant (4), a flow controller (40), a solar-assisted heat-exchanger array (6) and at least one solar collector (8). The thermal desalination plant (4) has at least one flow- controllable superheated steam inlet and steam discharge port (14, 16). The solar- assisted heat-exchanger array has at least first, second and third heat exchanger modules (26, 28, 30), operable in isolation of each other. The solar-assisted heat- exchanger array (6) is in communication with the at least one solar collector (8) for supplying heat energy thereto. Such a solar-assisted thermal desalination system (2) is arranged to superheat steam taken from the thermal desalination plant (4) so as to be suitable for reintroduction back into the thermal desalination plant (4) for retreatment.

IPC Classes  ?

• B01D 1/00 - Evaporating
• B01D 1/10 - Evaporators with vertical tubes with long tubes, e.g. Kestner evaporators
• B01D 1/26 - Multiple-effect evaporating
• B01D 3/00 - Distillation or related exchange processes in which liquids are contacted with gaseous media, e.g. stripping
• B01D 3/06 - Flash distillation
• B01D 3/14 - Fractional distillation
• B01D 3/42 - RegulationControl
• C02F 1/04 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating by distillation or evaporation
• C02F 1/06 - Flash evaporation
• C02F 1/14 - Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage by heating by distillation or evaporation using solar energy
• C02F 103/08 - Seawater, e.g. for desalination