Behavior of concrete evaporator shells during operation of the module plant at the Chigasaki test facilities

Abstract The research and development of concrete evaporator shell for desalting plants has been conducted since 1969. After the conclusion had been obtained from a variety of fundamental studies that concrete material could be utilized as an evaporator shell material for desalting plants, the “Research with Concrete Evaporator Shell Modules” was carried out extending over 3 years from 1971. Through construction and operation of a modular MSF system desalting plant employing a prestressed and a reinforced concrete evaporator shell with competent scale and function for a practical plant, the various findings were obtained such as the structural behaviors, resistivity to sea water brine and air-tightness of the concrete shells. And it is proposed that concrete is an excellent evaporator shell material for desalting plants.