6533b85bfe1ef96bd12bb598

RESEARCH PRODUCT

A neural network-based optimizing control system for a seawater-desalination solar-powered membrane distillation unit

Giorgio MicaleMosè GalluzzoAndrea CipollinaRosario Porrazzo

subject

EngineeringSettore ING-IND/26 - Teoria Dello Sviluppo Dei Processi ChimiciOptimization problembusiness.industryGeneral Chemical EngineeringProcess (computing)Control engineeringMembrane distillationMembrane distillationDesalinationNeural networkComputer Science ApplicationsRenewable energylaw.inventionSolar energylawControl systemControl OptimizationbusinessEnergy sourceProcess engineeringDistillation

description

Abstract Several schemes have been proposed so far for coupling desalination processes with the use of renewable energy. One of their main drawbacks, however, is the nature of the energy source that requires a discontinuous and non-stationary operation, with some control and optimization problems. In the present work, a solar powered membrane distillation system has been used for developing an optimizing control strategy. A neural network (NN) model of the system has been trained and tested using experimental data purposely collected. Afterwards, the NN model has been used for the analysis of the process performance under various operating conditions, namely distillate production versus feed flow rate, solar radiation and cold feed temperature. On this basis, a control system that optimizes the distillate production under variable operating conditions has been developed, implemented and tested.

10.1016/j.compchemeng.2013.03.015http://hdl.handle.net/10447/78428