Assessment of organic Rankine cycle configurations for solar polygeneration orientated to electricity production and desalination

This work addresses the polygeneration concept integrating concentrating solar power (CSP) with an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) to produce electricity and drinking water by hybrid desalination process combining reverse osmosis (RO) low-temperature multi-effect distillation (LTMED). Experiments carried out on a bench scale RO pilot led determine optimal operating parameters as well options mitigate main limiting factors of this technology hybridizing LTMED. These data helped simulate large plant parabolic trough collectors CSP RO-LTMED system technology. Various ORC design proposals were simulated configuration was pointed basis thermodynamic criteria (energy efficiency exergy destruction) economic analysis using two working fluids: alkane commonly admitted good candidate ester proposed here green alternative. Results obtained in contribute positively extending for production energy leading future sustainable plants.