Phase Change Material Thermal Energy Storage for a Supercritical Water Desalination System

Abstract

Due to the growing population and increasing demand for clean water, new solutions are being developed to access clean water. Supercritical water desalination (SCWD) is one of the solutions still developing. However, SCWD is a process that consumes high energy. This thesis presents a comprehensive study on the integration of a phase change material (PCM) thermal energy storage (TES) system into an SCWD system. The objective of this research is to address the pressing issues of energy consumption and environmental sustainability in the desalination process by harnessing renewable solar energy and leveraging the latent heat storage capacity of PCM. By incorporating PCM energy storage, the availability of stored thermal energy during periods of high demand is ensured, further enhancing the energy efficiency and resilience of the system. The proposed integration of PCM thermal energy storage for preheating an SCWD system aims to reduce energy consumption from the furnace and minimize the environmental impact of the SCWD process by introducing a sustainable solar energy source. The research approach encompasses experimental analysis, numerical simulations, and data processing. The experiment focuses on investigating the heat transfer occurring in the PCM storage tank, specifically from the PCM to the fluid, with various data parameters such as temperatures, pressures, and flow rates being recorded. MATLAB is employed to simulate the SCWD process, while the System Advisor Model (SAM) is utilized to collect and process weather data for solar energy analysis. The numerical analysis encompasses performance assessment and economic evaluation of the integrated system. This study aims to propose a novel strategy for enhancing the sustainability and energy efficiency of SCWD systems through the integration of renewable energy sources. It provides valuable insights into the influence of PCMs on solar thermal energy utilization in SCWD. Furthermore, the findings contribute to a better understanding of the impact of this integration on the performance and cost of SCWD. The results of this research are crucial for the development and implementation of efficient and environmentally friendly desalination technologies.