Applicability of flashing desalination technique for small scale needs using a novel integrated system coupled with nanofluid-based solar collector

• An attempt for the application of flash desalination technique for small scale needs is introduced.
• A nano-fluid is used as a working fluid for solar has been made to enhance the heat transfer rate.
• The proposed system gives a reasonable production of fresh water up to 7.7 l/m2/day under the operation conditions.
• The estimated cost of the generated potable water was 11.68 US$/m3.

The present study introduces an attempt for the application of flash desalination technique for small scale needs. An integrated system uses a flashing desalination technique coupled with nano-fluid-based solar collector as a heat source has been made to investigate both the effect of different operating modes and that of the variation of functioning parameters and weather conditions on the fresh water production. The flashing unit is performed by similar construction design technique of commercial multi-stage flashing (MSF) plant. The thermal properties of working fluid in the solar collector have been improved by using different concentrated nano-particles. Cu nano-particle is used in the modeling to determine the proper nano-fluid volume fraction that gives higher fresh water productivity. An economic analysis was conducted, since it affects the final cost of produced water, to determine the cost of fresh water production. Although a system may be technically very efficient, it may not be economical. The effect of different feed water and inlet cooling water temperatures on the system performance was studied. The mathematical model is developed to calculate the productivity of the system under different operating conditions. The proposed system gives a reasonable production of fresh water up to 7.7 l/m2/day under the operation conditions. Based on the cost of energy in Egypt, the estimated cost of the generated potable water was 11.68 US$/m3. The efficiency of the system is measured by the gained output ratio (GOR) with day time. The gained output ratio (GOR) of the system reaches 1.058. The current study showed that the solar water heater collecting area is considered a significant factor for reducing the water production cost. Also, the produced water costs decrease with increasing the collecting area of the solar water heater. The volume fractions of nano-particle in solar collector working fluid have a significant impact on increasing the fresh water production and decreasing cost.