Advanced Solar Desalination for Tourism Industry in Cyprus

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Advanced Solar Desalination for Tourism Industry in Cyprus
  • 1 - Water Consumption in the Tourism Industry
  • 2 - Market Analysis of Cyprus
    • 2.1 Economy of Cyprus
      • 2.1.1 Tourism Industry in Cyprus
      • 2.1.2 Tourist Occupancy in Cypriot Hotels
    • 2.2 Need for Desalination in Cyprus
  • 3 - Desalination
    • 3.1 Classification of Desalination Technologies
      • 3.1.1 Membrane Desalination
      • 3.1.2 Thermal Desalination
    • 3.2 Comparison of Performance of Desalination Technologies
      • 3.2.1 Advantages of MED Desalination Process
      • 3.2.2 Limitations
    • 3.3 Existing Desalination Plants in Cyprus
    • 3.4 Case Study: MED Desalination Technology
      • 3.4.1 Existing Facilities
  • 4 - MED Desalination
    • 4.1 Evaporator
    • 4.2 Demister
    • 4.3 Condenser and Flash Distiller
    • 4.4 Brine Feed Configuration
      • 4.4.1 Forward Brine Feed Configuration
      • 4.4.2 Backward Brine Feed Configuration
      • 4.4.3 Parallel Brine Feed Configuration
    • 4.5 Selection of Desalination Plant Capacity
      • 4.5.1 Calculation of Desalination Capacity
    • 4.6 Sensitivity Analysis of the Plant Capacity

  Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

  This master thesis provides a feasibility analysis of a Multiple Effect Distillation (MED) desalination plant for a hotel location in Cyprus. The main focus is on assessing the performance and energy consumption of the plant, exploring the potential of solar thermal energy as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The study incorporates plant design, detailed mathematical modeling, and simulation using the software DEEP. The thesis also aims to contribute to the understanding of sustainable water management strategies for the tourism industry in Cyprus. Key themes covered in the thesis include:
  • Water scarcity in the Mediterranean region and its impact on the tourism industry
  • Feasibility analysis of MED desalination technology for tourism facilities in Cyprus
  • Optimization of plant design and performance parameters to minimize energy consumption
  • Integration of renewable energy sources, particularly solar thermal energy, in desalination processes
  • Sustainable water management strategies for the tourism sector in Cyprus

  Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

  The thesis begins by examining the water consumption patterns within the tourism industry, highlighting the specific challenges faced by Cyprus due to its arid climate. The market analysis focuses on the Cypriot economy and its reliance on tourism. The subsequent chapter delves into desalination technologies, comparing different methods and emphasizing the advantages and limitations of MED. This section also explores existing desalination plants in Cyprus, establishing the context for the case study presented later. Chapter 4 provides a comprehensive overview of MED desalination, including detailed descriptions of the key components like evaporators, demisters, and condensers. The chapter also explores different brine feed configurations and analyzes the sensitivity of the plant capacity to various parameters. The concluding sections of the thesis focus on the design and simulation of the MED desalination plant, exploring the use of solar thermal energy as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels for powering the desalination process.

  Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

  The key focus of this research revolves around the application of desalination technology, particularly MED, for supplying water to the tourism industry in Cyprus. The research investigates the integration of renewable energy sources, specifically solar thermal energy, to create a sustainable solution for water management. The core concepts explored include plant design optimization, energy consumption analysis, and the impact of water scarcity on the tourism sector in Cyprus. Key terms that encapsulate the research focus include: tourism industry, Cyprus, MED desalination, solar thermal energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable water management.

  Frequently Asked Questions

  Why is desalination critical for Cyprus?

  Cyprus faces significant water scarcity due to its arid climate and high water demand, especially from its vital tourism industry.

  What is Multiple Effect Distillation (MED)?

  MED is a thermal desalination process that uses multiple stages (effects) to evaporate sea water at progressively lower pressures and temperatures for high energy efficiency.

  How can solar energy be integrated into desalination?

  Solar thermal energy, captured by parabolic trough collectors, can provide the necessary steam to power the MED plant, replacing unsustainable fossil fuels.

  What is the Gained Output Ratio (GOR)?

  GOR is a measure of the thermal efficiency of a desalination plant. The improved model in this study achieved a GOR of 13.6.

  What software was used to simulate the desalination plant?

  The study used the DEEP simulation software to assess the performance and energy consumption of the improved MED plant model.