Techno-enviro-economic study of a reverse osmosis desalination system equipped with photovoltaic-thermal collectors

Abstract

• PV/T-RO system is modeled analytically for arbitrary design and ambient conditions. • The effect of the number of PV/T collectors and configuration are studied. • The annual performance of the designed system is examined in Shiraz, Iran. • The PV/T-RO system is surveyed in both stand-alone and on-grid installations. • Economic and environmental studies are provided for the designed PV/T-RO system. Performance of a reverse osmosis desalination system equipped with photovoltaic-thermal collectors is studied technically, economically and environmentally in Shiraz, Iran. The system is designed and analyzed in two grid-connected and stand-alone installations with two different working scenarios. For the specified climate data and water flow rate of 2 m 3 /h, the maximum number of series photovoltaic-thermal collectors coupled with the reverse osmosis desalination system are found to be 18. By increasing the number of collectors from 1 to 18, the amount of produced freshwater and specific energy consumption improves 5.3% and 3.2%, respectively. In this regard, the annual amount of freshwater increases 5.6% compared to reverse osmosis systems without preheating. Additionally, the results of economic study in grid-connected and stand-alone systems reveal a reduction of 13.8% and 12% in water price compared to a similar conventional photovoltaic-reverse osmosis systems. The proposed system reduces CO 2 emission by 85.7 % in grid-connected and 79% in stand-alone installation compared to a simple grid connected reverse osmosis system. Moreover, the amount of CO 2 emission per cubic meter of freshwater produced in the present system decreases by 27.3% and 14% in grid-connected and stand-alone installations compared to conventional photovoltaic-reverse osmosis systems.