Comparison of adsorption-based desalination plant performance models

Abstract

Adsorption-based desalination (AD) is attracting increasing attention because of its ability to use low-grade thermal energy to co-generate fresh water and cooling. Various mathematic models have been developed under the different assumptions by researchers to understand and simulate the thermodynamic cycle and the performance of the AD systems. In this paper a comparison study has been carried out for a static model using the Langmuir isotherm, a zero–dimensional dynamic model using a Toth isotherm and a one-dimensional dynamic model. The simulated results of the fresh water production rate (FWPR) and energy consumption for a two-beds AD system from various models are compared with published experimental data.