Optimization using the response surface methodology: Application to an ice crystallization process for seawater pretreatment

This study focuses on the optimization of a freeze crystallization process within a Scraped Surface Heat Exchanger (SSHE) using the response surface methodology (RSM). The process in question was developed and modeled in our previous work for a new hybrid seawater desalination system combining freezing for pretreatment and reverse osmosis [1, 2]. The process simulation allowed predicting interpretable physically trends of the seawater crystallization main key phenomena within the SSHE such us the suspension temperature evolution and the ice volume fraction. The objective of this work is to determine all operating conditions that result in the best process performance. Response surface methodology with MINITAB software has been used to find the optimum design operating point of the proposed new freeze seawater desalination pretreatment process.