Multi-Effect Distillation (MED)

In MED, seawater is heated, and the vapor produced in the first “effect” is used to heat the seawater in subsequent effects, improving overall energy efficiency. The vapor is condensed to produce freshwater in each stage.

• Applications: Large-scale desalination plants, industrial applications where waste heat can be used, and coastal areas with abundant thermal energy.

• Advantages: More energy-efficient than MSF, works well with low-grade heat sources, and offers lower operational costs in some applications.