Insights on CDI parametric controls and dependencies using gloabal sensitivity analysis

Abstract

Capacitive deionization (CDI) emerges as a promising desalination technology due to its high energy efficiency and potential for energy recovery. Its performance improvement and application extension highly require understanding how variations in multiple input parameters, as well as their interactions, lead to variations in output, which is not straightforward in the complex system of CDI. In this work we use the extended Fourier amplitude sensitivity test (eFAST) method to conduct a global sensitivity analysis (GSA) in order to examine the effects of several parameters, including material properties, operating conditions, and ionic properties, on the energy consumption and salt removal efficiency of CDIs. The research reveals that high capacitance and efficient mass transfer are crucial for CDI advancement, with a trade-off between desalination rate and energy efficiency. The interplay between input parameters is revealed by factorial design and GSA, which show that no single parameter alone determines salt adsorption capacity but that feedwater salt concentration and current density are important when considering both individual and coupled effects. The study suggests that the specific application and feedwater characteristics should be taken into consideration when deciding between the CC and CV modes of desalination. While CC mode excels in water production and energy efficiency for high salinity feedwater pretreatment, CV mode is better at treating low salinity waterr. The comprehensive parametric analysis provides valuable insights into optimizing CDI design and operating conditions to balance desalination capacity and energy efficiency.