Abstract
The minimum initial cost of photovoltaic (PV) arrays in PV-powered reverse osmosis (PV-RO) desalination systems is estimated by thermo-hydro calculations that are based on second law of thermodynamics limitations. This cost is a function of location, which includes sea water salinity and climate data. The reversible work needed per kg of potable water produced has been computed. The effects of feed sea/brackish water salinity and the exhaust brine salinity (including the two extreme cases of zero and maximum recovery ratios) on the performance have been investigated. Power needed to drive a PV-RO desalination system of a given output is calculated. Osmotic pressure needed for different locations and the minimum PV area are calculated; the corresponding initial cost is estimated.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 28-37 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Desalination |
| Volume | 276 |
| Issue number | 1-3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2 Aug 2011 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors would like to thank King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia , for funding the research reported in this paper through the Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy at MIT and KFUPM.
Keywords
- Minimum PV arrays initial cost
- Minimum work
- PV-RO desalination
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry
- General Chemical Engineering
- General Materials Science
- Water Science and Technology
- Mechanical Engineering
