Abstract
A new stand-alone system of modified multi-effect mechanical vapor compression (ME-MVC) desalination unit powered by photovoltaic/thermal-photovoltaic (PVT-PV) collectors is studied The system incorporates solar-assisted heat pumps (HPs), an external preheater, and electrical and thermal energy storage subsystems. The system is investigated under different seawater feed configurations, effects number, and HP evaporator temperatures. It is compared with the conventional PV-powered single-effect mechanical vapor compression (SE-MVC) desalination system. The designed system is modeled and solved using MATLAB under weather conditions of Alexandria, Egypt, in terms of energy and economics impacts. Results indicate that the combined subsystem of the solar-assisted HPs and ME-MVC of parallel/cross feed and four effects has the lowest electricity consumption of 6.39 kWh/m3 while the value for SE-MVC is 7.58 kWh/m3. The average daily freshwater production of the proposed system is 86.4 m3 in summer and 72.89 m3 in winter with a freshwater cost of 5.11 $/m3. Yearly PVT-PV electrical efficiencies are 20.51 % and 19.35 %, respectively, whereas PVT thermal efficiency is 46.65 % and the overall solar system combined efficiency is 20.31 %. The proposed system's electricity consumption is 15.7 % lower, its solar system's efficiency is 23.54 % larger, and its freshwater cost is 3 % lower than that of the PV-powered SE-MVC.
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