Rural Application of a Low-Pressure Reverse Osmosis Desalination System Powered by Solar–Photovoltaic Energy for Mexican Arid Zones

Esmeralda Cervantes-Rendón, Jonathan Ibarra-Bahena, Luis E. Cervera-Gómez, Rosenberg J. Romero, Jesús Cerezo, Antonio Rodríguez-Martínez and Ulises Dehesa-Carrasco ()
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Esmeralda Cervantes-Rendón: Centro Regional de Investigacion y Desarrollo en Energia Alternativa, El Colegio de Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico
Jonathan Ibarra-Bahena: Subcoordinacion de Conservacion de Cuencas y Servicios Ambientales, Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico
Luis E. Cervera-Gómez: Centro Regional de Investigacion y Desarrollo en Energia Alternativa, El Colegio de Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico
Rosenberg J. Romero: Centro de Investigación en Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico
Jesús Cerezo: Centro de Investigación en Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca 62209, Morelos, Mexico
Antonio Rodríguez-Martínez: Centro Regional de Investigacion y Desarrollo en Energia Alternativa, El Colegio de Chihuahua, Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico
Ulises Dehesa-Carrasco: Subcoordinacion de Conservacion de Cuencas y Servicios Ambientales, Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 17, 1-15

Abstract: A reverse osmosis system driven by photovoltaic energy is an eco-friendly and sustainable way to produce freshwater in rural areas without connection to a power grid and with available brackish water sources. This paper describes a project where a photovoltaic-driven low-pressure reverse osmosis system (LPRO-PV) was designed, tested under laboratory conditions, and installed in Samalayuca, Chihuahua, Mexico, to evaluate the technical feasibility and social impact of this technology. The LPRO-PV system was tested with synthetic water with a salinity of 2921 ± 62.3 mg/L; the maximum freshwater volume produced was 1.8 ± 0.06 m 3 /day with a salinity value of 91 ± 1.9 mg/L. The LPRO-PV system satisfied the basic freshwater requirements for a local family of three members for one year, including the mobility-restriction period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The social evaluation analysis reflects the importance of considering the technical aspects derived from the experimental tests, as well as the users’ perception of the performance and operation of the system. As a result of the implementation of this technology and the benefits described by the users, they committed to the maintenance activities required for the LPRO-PV system’s operation. This technology has great potential to produce fresh water in arid and isolated regions with high-salinity groundwater sources, thus fulfilling the human right to safe and clean drinking water.

Keywords: brackish water desalination; solar photovoltaic energy; arid zones; user perception analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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