Modeling and multi-objective optimization of integrated MED–TVC desalination system and gas power plant for waste heat harvesting

• Published in: Computers & chemical engineering Vol. 149; p. 107294
• Main Authors: Harandi, Hesam Bazargan, Asadi, Anahita, Rahnama, Mohammad, Shen, Zu-Guo, Sui, Pang-Chieh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2021
• Subjects: Economic evaluation; Gain output ratio; Gas power plant; MED–TVC; Multi-objective optimization; NSGA II; Gain output ratio; MED–TVC; Multi-objective optimization; Gas power plant; Economic evaluation; NSGA II
• ISSN: 0098-1354; 1873-4375
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compchemeng.2021.107294

•MED-TVC is coupled with gas power plant at Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex.•HRSG is used to harvest waste heat from gas power plant.•DEEP software is used to determine total annual cost of desalination.•NSGA-II, yielding Pareto front, is employed to determine trade-off between maximizing GOR and minimizing total annual cost. A multi-effect desalination–thermal vapor compression (MED–TVC) system consuming the waste heat from the gas power plant of the Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex is designed and optimized by a new approach that integrates two environments: a MATLAB simulator and macros for economic analysis. A heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) is used to supply the required heat for steam generation while harvesting the waste heat. The HRSG and MED–TVC systems are simulated using MATLAB, and their economic analysis is conducted using DEEP software. The gain output ratio (GOR) and the total annual cost of desalination are considered as the objective functions in a multi-objective optimization to achieve the highest GOR and the lowest total annual cost simultaneously. The multi-objective optimization is performed using nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA II). It is found that the heating steam temperature is more affected by the GOR than the other decision variables.