Multi-effect desalination plant combined with thermal compressor driven by steam generated by solar energy

•Simulation model for MED- TVC desalination plant driven by solar energy is built.•The solar field along N- S provides 68% of the energy required to produce 40 L/m2.•MED- TVC plants produce 35-45 L/m2/day when solar radiation above 4.8 kWh/m2/day.

This paper investigates the annual performance of multi-effect desalination plant combined with a thermo-compressor MED–TC driven by a solar steam generation plant. The desalination model is coupled with solar steam generation plant model to supply the necessary thermal energy to drive the desalination plant. The developed model determines the fresh water production rate and the specific energy consumption. The desalination plant is located in Aqaba, Jordan which is located in a coastal region that receives high levels of solar radiation. Simulations of the system (desalination plant + steam generation plant) are carried out under different operating and geometrical conditions to investigate the plant performance. The desalination plant is sized to produce 50,000 m3/day of fresh water continuously to meet the expected commercial and tourism growth. Results show that with collector area equal to 1,080,000 m2 and storage size of 75 l per square meter of solar collector, the solar energy is capable of covering up to 68% of the total thermal energy required using storage capacity by the desalination plant with annual solar field efficiency of about 55%. The solar field oriented along a north–south axis presents the best performance and the solar fraction does not increase significantly as the pressure of the saturated steam generated varies.