LAUSR

This paper provides an overview of the potential use of Desalination Economic Analysis Spreadsheets DEAS package; implemented as Excel spreadsheets in economic evaluation and analysis of thermal desalination plants; especially multi stage flashing (MSF) and multi effect evaporation with / without thermal vapor compression (MEE / MEE-TVC). The DEAS package program has been developed by the researchers. DEAS has been developed and used during the evaluation of thermal desalination plants in the oil sector in Libya. Cost data obtained from various sources were used to evaluate the economic performance and the cost of producing one m of distillate water. Different aspects of economic evaluation were discussed in which the attractive potential utilization of DEAS program is shown. The results obtained from DEAS program showed that the increase of plant capacity (although it increased the capital cost) reduced the product unit cost. In addition, an estimate of the unit product cost of thermal desalination processes could be done quickly and accurately through DEAS.