ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THERMAL DESALINATION PLANTS USING DEAS PROGRAM: Issue 4-Journal of Applied Science April (2020)

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the potential use of Desalination Economic
Analysis Spreadsheets DEAS package; implemented as Excel spreadsheets in economic
evaluation and analysis of thermal desalination plants; especially multi stage flashing
(MSF) and multi effect evaporation with / without thermal vapor compression (MEE /
MEE-TVC). The DEAS package program has been developed by the researchers. DEAS
has been developed and used during the evaluation of thermal desalination plants in the oil
sector in Libya. Cost data obtained from various sources were used to evaluate the
economic performance and the cost of producing one m3 of distillate water. Different
aspects of economic evaluation were discussed in which the attractive potential utilization
of DEAS program is shown. The results obtained from DEAS program showed that the
increase of plant capacity (although it increased the capital cost) reduced the product unit
cost. In addition, an estimate of the unit product cost of thermal desalination processes
could be done quickly and accurately through DEAS.