Techno-Economic Assessment of a PV/T-Battery Powered Multi-Stage Vacuum-Assisted Air Gap Membrane Distillation System

Ahmed Omera; A. E. Geweda; M. A. Antar

doi:10.1109/SSD69655.2026.11559087

Techno-Economic Assessment of a PV/T-Battery Powered Multi-Stage Vacuum-Assisted Air Gap Membrane Distillation System

Ahmed Omera
, A. E. Geweda
, M. A. Antar

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study develops a thermo-economic model for a PV/T–battery-powered multi-stage V-AGMD desalination system. The model integrates detailed heat and mass transfer formulations of vacuum-assisted AGMD modules with an electrical subsystem comprising PV/T collectors, an inverter, and a battery bank sized to provide up to 18 hours of energy storage, including daylight operation. The system performance is evaluated under varying numbers of membrane stages and feed temperatures, while the electrical model determines the required PV/T capacity and battery sizing to meet the desalination load. A levelized cost of water (LCOW) analysis is conducted and compared against a conventional PV-powered MD configuration to assess economic feasibility. In the PV-powered case, LCOW was reduced from approximately 4.2 at low staging to about 0.45 at 28 stages (a decrease of nearly 90%), indicating that the productivity gain at high stage numbers outweighed the added capital requirements.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	194-200
Number of pages	7
Journal	International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals, and Devices, SSD
Issue number	2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/SSD69655.2026.11559087
State	Published - 2026
Event	23rd International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals and Devices, SSD 2026 - Catania, Italy Duration: 31 Mar 2026 → 1 Apr 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 IEEE.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Multistage
membrane distillation
photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems
vacuum air gap membrane distillation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Artificial Intelligence
Computer Networks and Communications
Information Systems
Signal Processing
Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Control and Optimization

Access to Document

10.1109/SSD69655.2026.11559087

Cite this

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title = "Techno-Economic Assessment of a PV/T-Battery Powered Multi-Stage Vacuum-Assisted Air Gap Membrane Distillation System",

abstract = "This study develops a thermo-economic model for a PV/T{\textendash}battery-powered multi-stage V-AGMD desalination system. The model integrates detailed heat and mass transfer formulations of vacuum-assisted AGMD modules with an electrical subsystem comprising PV/T collectors, an inverter, and a battery bank sized to provide up to 18 hours of energy storage, including daylight operation. The system performance is evaluated under varying numbers of membrane stages and feed temperatures, while the electrical model determines the required PV/T capacity and battery sizing to meet the desalination load. A levelized cost of water (LCOW) analysis is conducted and compared against a conventional PV-powered MD configuration to assess economic feasibility. In the PV-powered case, LCOW was reduced from approximately 4.2 at low staging to about 0.45 at 28 stages (a decrease of nearly 90\%), indicating that the productivity gain at high stage numbers outweighed the added capital requirements.",

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author = "Ahmed Omera and Geweda, \{A. E.\} and Antar, \{M. A.\}",

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AU - Geweda, A. E.

AU - Antar, M. A.

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - This study develops a thermo-economic model for a PV/T–battery-powered multi-stage V-AGMD desalination system. The model integrates detailed heat and mass transfer formulations of vacuum-assisted AGMD modules with an electrical subsystem comprising PV/T collectors, an inverter, and a battery bank sized to provide up to 18 hours of energy storage, including daylight operation. The system performance is evaluated under varying numbers of membrane stages and feed temperatures, while the electrical model determines the required PV/T capacity and battery sizing to meet the desalination load. A levelized cost of water (LCOW) analysis is conducted and compared against a conventional PV-powered MD configuration to assess economic feasibility. In the PV-powered case, LCOW was reduced from approximately 4.2 at low staging to about 0.45 at 28 stages (a decrease of nearly 90%), indicating that the productivity gain at high stage numbers outweighed the added capital requirements.

AB - This study develops a thermo-economic model for a PV/T–battery-powered multi-stage V-AGMD desalination system. The model integrates detailed heat and mass transfer formulations of vacuum-assisted AGMD modules with an electrical subsystem comprising PV/T collectors, an inverter, and a battery bank sized to provide up to 18 hours of energy storage, including daylight operation. The system performance is evaluated under varying numbers of membrane stages and feed temperatures, while the electrical model determines the required PV/T capacity and battery sizing to meet the desalination load. A levelized cost of water (LCOW) analysis is conducted and compared against a conventional PV-powered MD configuration to assess economic feasibility. In the PV-powered case, LCOW was reduced from approximately 4.2 at low staging to about 0.45 at 28 stages (a decrease of nearly 90%), indicating that the productivity gain at high stage numbers outweighed the added capital requirements.

KW - Multistage

KW - membrane distillation

KW - photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems

KW - vacuum air gap membrane distillation

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DO - 10.1109/SSD69655.2026.11559087

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JO - International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals, and Devices, SSD

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ER -

Techno-Economic Assessment of a PV/T-Battery Powered Multi-Stage Vacuum-Assisted Air Gap Membrane Distillation System

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this