High-energy efficiency desalination project using a full titanium desalination unit and a solar pond as the heat supply

The project concerns the design, optimization, construction, assembling, start-up and extensive monitoring of an experimental plant consisting of a full-titanium desalinator coupled with a small solar pond. The operational tests took place at the site of the solar pond of the University of Ancona (Italy). Data collected during the start-up and operation of the plant under various conditions are being utilized for improving expertise on heat recovery with highly corrosive fluids, on co-generation plants aimed at producing electricity and fresh water, and on desalination fed by solar energy. Some preliminary economic evaluations are discussed.