A simulation-based optimization of heat pump air circulation evaporating separation system for saline wastewater treatment

Recycling salt and water from saline wastewater is crucial for environmental preservation, resource conservation, and social economy sustainability. The heat pump air circulation evaporating separation (HP-ACES) system for saline wastewater treatment is proposed. Nevertheless, it is discovered that the system evaporation efficiency ( SEE ) is low and solid crystalline salt does not precipitate during the experiment. Therefore, an established and validated mathematical model of the HP-ACES system is provided and the average relative errors of the system evaporation rate ( SER ) and SEE are 5.3 % and 7 %, respectively. The theoretical analysis of the non-optimized system indicates that the main cause of the low SEE of the HP-ACES system during the test is incorrect cooling water flow. Hence, the system optimization scheme is presented and the comparison of the HP-ACES system's performances before and after optimization is conducted. Results demonstrate that the SEE of the optimized HP-ACES system has been greatly improved (optimized system: 0.62–2.46 kg/kWh, non-optimized system: 0.77–0.91 kg/kWh). Additionally, there is almost no change in the yield and composition of the solid crystalline salt when the inlet air temperature of spray separation tower is above 90 °C. • A mathematical model of HP-ACES system was built. • The average relative errors are 5.3 % and 7 % when predicting SER and SEE. • Improper cooling water flow is the main reason resulting in low SEE. • The SEE of the optimized HP-ACES system ranges 0.62–2.46 kg/kWh. • There is no change in the solid crystalline salt when t a,in,sp is above 90 °C.