ENG. ANDREW OMWENGA
Chemical & Process Simulation Engineer • Thermodynamic Specialist
Hybrid MED-AD Coastal Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study
Section 1.0 — Simulation & Facility Metadata
Section 2.0 — Executive Summary
Thermal & adsorption energy integration study for coastal seawater desalination in Kwale, Kenya, combining Multi-Effect Distillation with Adsorption Desalination (MED-AD).
Section 3.0 — Problem Statement & Operating Bottlenecks
High energy consumption and brine thermal pollution in traditional seawater thermal desalination systems operating in coastal East Africa.
Section 4.0 — Objectives & Rigorous Simulation Methodology
Mathematical thermal modeling in Aspen HYSYS combined with MATLAB numerical solvers. Seawater feed salinity set to 35,000 ppm TDS.
Section 5.0 — Simulation Results & Thermodynamic Findings
Using 75 °C waste heat from nearby industrial generators reduced electrical grid dependency by 62%, making coastal desalination financially viable for Kwale County.
Section 6.0 — Core Engineering Takeaways
Section 7.0 — Model Assumptions & Future Recommendations
Silica gel adsorbent bed decay over 5-year operating lifespan modeled linearly.
Solar thermal collector coupling pilot test for off-grid coastal communities.
Section 8.0 — Consultant Conclusion & Verification Sign-off
Hybrid MED-AD technology leverages low-grade heat sources to deliver low-cost freshwater to water-scarce coastal regions.
