MDFT
Other · 2006–2025
About this facility
Membrane Desalination Test Facilities consisting of a pilot-scale test bed for solar membrane distillation. The facilities use flat-plate solar collector fields of 20 m² and 40 m² with thermal storage and controlled heat-supply temperature. The automated, monitored installation regulates temperatures and flows, includes several chillers for heat dissipation, and can operate with real seawater. The membrane distillation pilot plants use spiral-wound modules in air-gap and vacuum-assisted air-gap configurations and multi-effect plate-and-frame modules in vacuum configuration. Feed recirculation for brine concentration is possible.
Sectors and technologies
Thermal Desalination and Brine concentration
Technical specifications
7 parameters| Facility type | Other |
|---|---|
| Year of construction | 2006–2025 |
| Solar membrane distillation pilot facility | Two solar fields: 20 m² and 40 m² |
| Solar thermal power | 7 kWth and 14 kWth, respectively |
| Hot water supply temperature | Up to approximately 90 °C |
| Seawater storage | 300 m³ |
| MD pilot module configurations | Air-gap, vacuum-assisted air-gap and multi-effect vacuum membrane distillation |
Available services
- Solar Thermal Desalination by Membrane Distillation
- Innovative membrane desalination technologies (MD, FO)
- Low-temperature solar collectors for thermal water treatment
Contact & links
Juan Antonio Andrés Mañas (juanantonio.andres@psa.es); Alba Ruiz Aguirre (aruiz@psa.es)



