Comprehensive guide to types of water desalination devices

Choosing a desalination plant is half the battle. The other half is proper chemical management.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the different types of industrial desalination plants in simple, practical language — without going into heavy technical details (which we’ll explore in more depth in separate articles). Our goal is to help you make an informed choice that’s best for your industry.

In this article you will read:

✅  A simple and practical comparison of the 5 main types of water desalination

✅  Identify the chemical challenges of each system (sedimentation, corrosion, clogging)

✅  A selection guide based on industry, budget and required water quality

Types of water desalination

• RO (Reverse Osmosis) water desalination
• MED (Multi-Effect Distillation) water desalination
• MSF (Multi-Stage Flash) water desalination
• EDI (Electrodeionization) water desalination
• MVC (Mechanical Vapor Compression) water desalination

RO (Reverse Osmosis) water desalination — the most widely used method in the industry

Simple method:

They pass salt water through a semi-permeable membrane at high pressure. Salts and contaminants remain behind the membrane and fresh water comes out the other side.

RO water desalination machine

RO Advantages:

• Suitable for all industries — from small to very large
• Relatively low energy consumption
• Advanced and reliable technology
• Possibility of combining with other systems (such as EDI for ultrapure water)

Chemical Challenges of RO:

• Membrane scale (calcium, magnesium, silica) → Reduced flux and water quality
• Biological contamination → Membrane bauxite
• Need for specialized anti-scale and cleaning agents

MED (Multi-Effect Distillation) Desalination Method:

Water is evaporated and condensed in several successive chambers (effects). Each stage uses the heat of the previous stage — so it saves energy.

Industrial MED desalination devices

Advantages of MED desalination:

• Very high outlet water quality (even for pharmaceutical purposes)
• Suitable for connection to power plants (heat recovery)
• High tolerance to fluctuations in inlet water quality

Chemical challenges of MED:

• Deposits in evaporator tubes → Reduced heat transfer
• High temperature corrosion → Need for thermal anti-corrosion
• Need for continuous chemical monitoring

MSF (Multi-Stage Flash) desalination — old but powerful

How MSF desalination works:

Brine water is heated and introduced in successive stages at lower pressure — in each stage, part of the water is converted to steam and converted to fresh water in the condensers.

Advantages of MSF desalination:

• Very high capacity — suitable for large cities and industries
• High reliability — long equipment life
• Usually installed next to thermal power plants

Chemical challenges of MSF desalination:

• Severe corrosion in flash chambers
• Sedimentation in condensers → reduced efficiency
• Requires periodic inspection and washing with specialized chemicals

EDI (Electrodeionization) desalination — for ultrapure water

EDI desalination method:

A combination of ion exchange resins and electric current to produce ultrapure water — no need for acid or base for regeneration.

EDI water desalination machine

Advantages of EDI desalination:

• Producing ultrapure water (UPW) — suitable for pharmaceutical, electronics and laboratory industries
• No regeneration chemicals — environmentally friendly
• Automatic and continuous operation

Chemical challenges of EDI desalination:

• Extreme sensitivity to inlet water quality — requires pretreatment (usually RO)
• Resin fouling in case of suspended particles or silica
• Need to control pH and inlet water hardness

MVC (Mechanical Vapor Compression) desalination — low-power and small

How MVC desalination works:

The steam produced from water evaporation is compressed with a mechanical compressor — and reused as a heat source. Closed and low-energy system.

Advantages of MVC desalination:

• Very low energy consumption — ideal for remote areas
• Suitable for small to medium capacities
• No need for external steam or hot water

Chemical challenges of MVC desalination:

• Scaling in evaporator → Reduced heat transfer
• Corrosion in compressor and pipes → Need for temperature-compatible anti-corrosion protection
• Sensitivity to inlet water hardness

Which desalination system is right for you?

Why Chemical Management in Water Desalination = Cost Savings?

Many people think that purchasing a desalination plant is the last expense — but the truth is:

• 70% of the operating costs of desalination plants are related to maintenance, repairs, and replacement of parts — not the plant itself!

Without chemical management, desalination plants:

• Membranes or pipes become fouled → Reduced water production → Increased pressure → Increased energy consumption
• Corrosion causes equipment to puncture → Emergency shutdown → Millions in damage
• Membrane or evaporator replacement → Cost 5 to 10 times more than preventive chemicals!

Specialized services of Abrizan Industrial Research Company (Mitreh brand)

We increase the efficiency of your system.

Free specialized consultation with laboratory support

• Sampling of sediment or incoming water
• Accurate analysis of sediment type (carbonate, sulfate, silicate, etc.)
• Proposal of a proprietary Mitreh formulation — not a generic product!

Field chemical washing by a specialist team

• Presence of the Abrizan team at the project site
• Implementation of washing protocol with parameter control (pH, TDS, TH, temperature, time, flow rate and other required tests)
• Performance report before and after washing

Production of specialized Mitreh solutions

• Sedimentation of acidic and alkaline vectors - for RO, MED, MSF, MVC
• Advanced anti-scaling - prevention of new scale formation
• Thermal and non-thermal anti-corrosion - protection of steel, copper, titanium
• Membrane and resin cleaners - without damage to the equipment structure

All Mitreh products:

• Compliant with API, ASTM, ISO standards
• Adjustable based on system type, inlet water quality and operating conditions
• Available in solution or powder form - with operating manual

Free and Expert Advice — Before Making a Decision!

If you are unsure about choosing the right type of desalination plant or chemicals for it — Abrizan technical experts are ready to help you:

✅ Free analysis of the quality of the incoming water or existing sediment

✅ Proposal of the best Mitreh formulation based on testing

✅ Free sample delivery + manual

✅ On-site chemical washing by a specialist team

Request for free technical advice — with laboratory sampling

Final conclusion:

Choosing the right desalination plant is not just a technical decision — it is an economic and strategic decision. And its chemical management determines the life and efficiency of your system.

Abrizan Industrial Research Company with the Mitreh brand, relying on experience, laboratory and expert executive team, is ready to be by your side.