Feasibility Study of a Reverse Osmosis Desalination Unit Powered by Photovoltaic Panels for a Sustainable Water Supply in Algeria

Zahia Tigrine, Hanene Aburideh, Djamila Zioui, Sarra Hout, Naima Sahraoui, Yasmine Benchoubane, Amina Izem, Djilali Tassalit, Fatma Zohra Yahiaoui, Mohamed Khateb, Nadjib Drouiche () and Seif El Islam Lebouachera ()
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Zahia Tigrine: Unité de Développement des Equipements Solaires (UDES), Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables (CDER), Route Nationale N°11, Bou-Ismail 42415, Algeria
Hanene Aburideh: Unité de Développement des Equipements Solaires (UDES), Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables (CDER), Route Nationale N°11, Bou-Ismail 42415, Algeria
Djamila Zioui: Unité de Développement des Equipements Solaires (UDES), Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables (CDER), Route Nationale N°11, Bou-Ismail 42415, Algeria
Sarra Hout: Unité de Développement des Equipements Solaires (UDES), Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables (CDER), Route Nationale N°11, Bou-Ismail 42415, Algeria
Naima Sahraoui: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Process Engineering, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), Algiers 16111, Algeria
Yasmine Benchoubane: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Process Engineering, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), Algiers 16111, Algeria
Amina Izem: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Process Engineering, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), Algiers 16111, Algeria
Djilali Tassalit: Unité de Développement des Equipements Solaires (UDES), Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables (CDER), Route Nationale N°11, Bou-Ismail 42415, Algeria
Fatma Zohra Yahiaoui: Unité de Développement des Equipements Solaires (UDES), Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables (CDER), Route Nationale N°11, Bou-Ismail 42415, Algeria
Mohamed Khateb: Usine de Dessalement d’Eau de Mer, Fouka 42000, Algeria
Nadjib Drouiche: Centre de Recherche en Technologie Semi-Conducteurs pour l’Energétique, Division CCPM, N2, Bd Dr. Frantz Fanon, Algiers 16038, Algeria
Seif El Islam Lebouachera: Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l’Environnement et les Matériaux, IPREM, UMR 5254, CNRS Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour/E2S, 2 Avenue P. Angot, Technopôle Hélioparc, 64000 Pau, France

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-23

Abstract: In recent years, reverse osmosis water desalination has developed rapidly and has become the most competitive and widely used technology in the world. The number of desalination plants is increasing rapidly as freshwater needs increase. Various membrane technologies have been developed and improved, including nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO), whose desalination costs have been relatively reduced. Therefore, this work proposes an experimental study for a small desalination unit based on RO generated by renewable energy, which is mainly suitable for arid regions or desert areas that do not have electricity and water and can be applied for emergency treatment to meet strong freshwater resource needs. In this study, to meet the drinking water demand, a reverse osmosis desalination system is designed and evaluated in order to improve and optimize its operation. This system has a daily capacity of 2 m 3 . We used brackish groundwater, which has been characterized as reference water, to produce synthetic water for different salinities until seawater. The analysis is based on data obtained from experiments carried out in the standalone RO pilot designed for the production of fresh water. For this purpose, we conducted relevant experiments to examine the influence of applied pressure, salt concentration and temperature on the RO membrane performance. The effects of different factors that affect the energy consumption in the RO desalination process were analyzed, and those with significant influence were explored. The effectiveness of RO desalination coupled with a photovoltaic (PV) energy system is shown. We found the recovery rate for system operation to be 32%. An optimization study is presented for the operation of an autonomous RO desalination system powered by photovoltaic panels. The energy produced by the PV system was used to feed two pumps forthe production of drinking waterwithanRO membrane, under the conditions of the town of Bou-Ismail. As results, a 3 kWp PV system was installed based on the energy demand. The design data have shown that a 3 kWp PV system can power a 1.8 W RO load given the Bou-Ismail climate. Energy consumption in the case study under Bou-Ismail weather conditions were analyzed. The desalination of brackish water at a TDS value of 5 g/L requires an energy of about 1.5 kWh/m 3 . Using seawater at a TDS value of 35 g/L, this value increases to 5.6 kWh/m 3 . The results showed that the optimal recovery rate for system operation was determined to be 32% for a feedwater salinity of 35 g/L, and 80% for a feedwater salinity of 1 g/L.

Keywords: reverse osmosis; desalination; membrane; temperature; seawater; renewable energy; photovoltaic; energy consumption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:19:p:14189-:d:1247592

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