Desalination by solar-powered reverse osmosis in a remote area of the Sultanate of Oman

Zaher Al Suleimani and V. Rajendran Nair

Applied Energy, 2000, vol. 65, issue 1-4, 367-380

Abstract: The Ministry of Water Resources successfully conducted an experimental study on the use of solar power to desalinate brackish ground water at their Heelat ar Rakah camp, a remote location some 900 km south of Muscat, the capital of Oman. The system comprises components for pre-treatment of pumped well water to separate hydrogen sulphide, acid dosing to correct the pH, cartridge filtration, a solar powered reverse osmosis unit, and a reject-water evaporation pond. The solar powered system comprises a 23.2 m2 solar photovoltaic generator with a peak capacity of 3250 Wp, a boost charge battery of 200 Ah at 48 VDC, a charge controller, a sine-wave inverter of 3000 VA with an output of 230 V, 50 Hz, and necessary controls and instrumentation. The design water output of 5 m3/day during 5 h (of each day) was achieved, with the output sometimes exceeding 7.5 m3/day. The average cost of production is estimated at US$6.52/m3 over the 20-year lifetime of the equipment. The study has demonstrated that solar-powered reverse osmosis systems are particularly appropriate to remote locations that have limited or no access to supply services such as fuel, power or potable water.

Keywords: Solar; power; Photovoltaic; Desalination; Reverse; osmosis; Brackish; water; Oman; Nejd (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2000
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (24)

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