Synergistic, adaptive, continuous-flow, and low-carbon solar evaporation and electrochemical treatment (SEET) system – a combined numerical and experimental study

Abstract

A synergistic, adaptive, continuous-flow, and low-carbon solar evaporation and electrochemical treatment (SEET) system was proposed and researched for energy-efficient and sustainable decentralized water treatment. The hybrid system integrated anodic oxidation with solar evaporation to enhance organic degradation and optimize mass transport through the photo-thermal effect. A novel four-step numerical simulation method was proposed to design the system and examine the water evaporation process and mass transport of salts and organics. A case study was implemented, revealing that system parameters related to evaporation and organics degradation exhibited strong interdependence. The relationships between these parameters were well-established, and adaptive water flow rate ranges were also identified to prevent salt accumulation while ensuring efficient organic degradation. The adaptability demonstrated the system's potential for use in varying influent scenarios. A prototype of the system was constructed, and the experimental data matched well with the simulation results. In the experiments, the local water temperature reached 45–50 °C in the continuous-flow mode under one sun condition, resulting in a 2–5 times reduction in outlet organic concentrations compared to traditional electrochemical systems. Energy analysis confirmed that the system primarily relied on clean and sustainable solar energy, maintaining a low carbon footprint. In conclusion, this innovative approach offers significant potential for addressing the clean drinking water crisis and enhancing pollutant removal in future decentralized water treatment systems.