Innovative Design of Solar-Powered Desalination (SPD) System using Vacuum-Multi Effect Membrane Distillation (V-MEMD) Process

Abstract

This research focused on the development of an innovative design of solar-powered desalination (SPD) system which was expected to solve the water and energy problem simultaneously. We have developed a portable and hybrid solar-powered desalination (SPD) system for producing potable water from saline water. It is a self-contained and integrated system which combines solar-thermal collector and solar-photovoltaic for its operation, and thus the system can operate to produce water by only using solar energy. Therefore, the system is highly suitable to be implemented in remote arid and coastal areas without infrastructures or connection to the grid (water and power), but blessed with abundant solar irradiation, like in Saudi Arabia. A Memsys Vacuum Multi-Effect Membrane Distillation (V-MEMD) unit was used as the core of the SPD system. A heat pump was also integrated into the SPD system for energy recovery and to improve the performance of the system. The system could be considered as sustainable and “green” desalination technology, which will be very useful for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To study the performance of the system, small-scale tests have been carried out at the Engineering College - King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. Based on the experimental results, the system has run successfully by only utilizing solar energy.