Performance study of a new dual condenser heat pump driven humidification and dehumidification desalination system

A novel thermal desalination system powered by concentrated solar spectrum splitting thermal photovoltaic integrated with high temperature heat pump

Challenges and mitigations of corrosion and scale in nuclear cogeneration desalination systems: A case study from West Kalimantan

Hybrid Biomass-LNG powered multigeneration multi-effect desalination system for sustainable freshwater, energy and hydrogen production: Design and optimization using 4E analysis and machine learning-based evaluation

An efficient and salt tolerant capillary driven seawater desalination system integrated with HCPV technology

Adaptive speed control strategy for the high-pressure pump in a ground-based hydraulic wind turbine-driven reverse osmosis seawater desalination system

Nonwoven materials, characterized by high porosity, tunable fiber architecture, robust mechanical strength, and versatile surface functionalizability, have emerged as highly promising platforms for next-generation seawater desalination. This review comprehensively examines the structural design strategies and performance-regulation mechanisms of nonwoven membranes across major desalination technologies, including reverse osmosis (RO), forward osmosis (FO), membrane distillation (MD), and solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SIE). Particular emphasis is placed on the synergistic influence of fiber diameter, orientation, porosity, and multilayer composite configurations in determining key performance metrics, including water flux, salt rejection, wetting resistance, antifouling behavior, and long-term operational stability. Furthermore, we summarize recent advances in nonwoven fabrication techniques, including melt blowing, electrospinning, and centrifugal spinning, and discuss their integration with emerging functionalization approaches such as plasma modification, nanoparticle and 2D-material incorporation, polymer blending, and sustainable bio-based materials. By aligning nonwoven material design with the physicochemical requirements of different desalination pathways, this review highlights the technological potential of nonwoven membranes to enable high-efficiency, low-carbon, and environmentally sustainable desalination systems.

This study presents a novel Solar-Assisted Air Gap Membrane Distillation Desalination System (SAGMDDS) designed for efficient treatment of high-TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) Persian Gulf seawater, leveraging the region's abundant solar irradiance. Unlike conventional setups, this SAGMDDS employs readily available materials and a simple, original module layout to reduce system complexity and cost. Utilizing air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes, the system achieved high desalination efficiency, reducing TDS from 48,000ppm to 60ppm, corresponding to over 99.9% salt rejection. The influence of key operational parameters, including feed flow rate, temperature, and air gap uniformity, on performance was evaluated. Critical design challenges such as thermal membrane deformation and uneven condensation leading to air gap collapse, were also addressed through targeted design innovations, including optimized condensate plate inclination angles and spacer reinforcements strategies. Experimental findings highlighted the importance of module configuration. A fragmented, brick-like spacer layout with 90° inclination and 70 L/h feed flow rate at 60°C yielded the highest permeate flux of 12.3 L/m2·h, while a mesh support structure resulted in the lowest flux (4.5 L/m2·h). This practical and innovative system advances solar-integrated AGMD technology and demonstrates its potential for sustainable desalination in arid, high-salinity regions.

Global freshwater scarcity, especially across arid regions such as Afghanistan, underscores the urgent need for sustainable and low-cost desalination technologies. Conventional solar distillation systems suffer from intrinsically low thermal efficiency and limited productivity. This study aimed to overcome these limitations by experimentally and analytically evaluating the performance enhancement achieved through integrating low-cost porous black wool insulation into the steps of a cascade solar still. A series of laboratory experiments were conducted under controlled clear-sky conditions, supported by quasi-dynamic thermal modeling and exergy analysis. The energy and exergy efficiencies were computed using validated thermodynamic relations, while an innovative cost-effectiveness index (CEI) was introduced to quantitatively assess the trade-off between thermal performance and economic feasibility. The results reveal a peak energy efficiency of 24.7% and an exergy efficiency of 4.35% for a thermodynamically optimal configuration at a thickness of 20 mm, representing a 7.08% improvement over an uninsulated baseline. However, the highest economic productivity, expressed by the maximum CEI of 0.49% /mm, was achieved at a thickness of 5 mm, identifying a critical divergence between thermal and economic optima. The novelty of this work lies in establishing a dual optimization pathway—thermal efficiency and cost-effectiveness—based on a material-thickness-dependent function validated by both experimentally and theoretically. These results provide a new, quantitative framework for sustainable design and scale-up of economically viable solar desalination systems.

Performance assessment and optimization of an absorption cooling and desalination system

Thermoeconomic assessment of a cement-plant waste-heat-driven trigeneration system for power, cooling, and desalination

Dynamic thermo-fluid analysis of a hybrid solar desalination system with dual-helical coil and energy storage material

Thermodynamic and exergoeconomic optimization for multi-stage spray flash evaporation desalination system

Thermal performance improvement of solar desalination system integrated with a heat pump, evacuated tube, hanging wick, reflector, and cover cooling

Mechanistic modeling and thermodynamic optimization of solar-powered membrane-based air humidification-dehumidification seawater desalination system

Pyramid-shaped solar still desalination systems performance assessment and optimisation using sequential neural networks and genetic algorithms

Directional Solvent Extraction (DSE) is a promising desalination process that can produce fresh water from saline water using low-temperature heat sources. Amines, fatty acids, and ionic liquids were proposed as potential directional solvents—these solvents and seawater form liquid–liquid binary mixtures in a two-phase immiscible system. The energy and exergy analyses of the DSE desalination processes require accurate and consistent thermodynamic properties of these liquid–liquid mixtures. This paper presents a systematic framework for evaluating the thermodynamic properties of two-phase, liquid–liquid immiscible binary solutions consisting of seawater and a potential directional solvent. The property prediction framework includes two main steps: (1) a fundamental Gibbs free energy equation is utilized to evaluate the thermodynamic properties of the pure liquid solvent, while pure water and seawater properties were determined using existing correlations; and (2) The Non-Random Two-Liquid (NRTL) excess Gibbs energy model was used membranes to capture deviations of water–solvent mixtures from ideal solution behavior. The thermodynamic properties of two-phase immiscible mixtures of seawater and octanoic acid as a directional solvent were then determined using the methodology described in this paper. Finally, the thermodynamic properties of liquid–liquid immiscible mixtures of octanoic acid and seawater were used to analyze a basic example of a DSE desalination system.

Abstract More effective, environmentally friendly, and widely used desalination technologies have been developed as a result of the worldwide freshwater shortage situation. Small seawater distillation dispenser with vacuum chamber, which reduces seawater’s boiling point to allow for low-temperature evaporation, is one promising technique. In order to produce fresh water from seawater, this study intends to assess the performance characteristics of a vacuum-chambered MED (Multi-Effect Distillation) dispenser as a small desalination system. Lab-scale MED units with variable working parameters, such as vacuum pressures ranging from 20 kPa to 70 kPa, operating temperatures between 50 and 80 °C, and three chambers, were designed and tested as part of the research methodology. Fresh water production rate, gained output ratio (GOR), and salt rejection efficiency were among the performance metrics examined. Under working circumstances of 50 kPa, the experimental results demonstrate that a drop in vacuum pressure significantly enhances the freshwater production rate in comparison to atmospheric pressure. An optimal GOR value of 0.008 in a 3-effect configuration, the system’s energy efficiency is demonstrated. According to the study’s findings, vacuum-chambered MED dispensers hold enormous promise as portable, high-performing, eco-friendly desalination equipment. These results are anticipated to serve as the foundation for the creation of small, renewable energy-based desalination devices that can be used in isolated locations with inadequate clean water infrastructure and along coastlines.

Abstract The escalating global demand for fresh water necessitates sustainable desalination solutions. Humidification-dehumidification (HDH) solar desalination systems offer a promising and low-impact approach to environmental sustainability. This paper details a thorough investigation into optimizing the performance of these systems. A detailed model is developed encompassing the solar collector, humidifier, dehumidifier, and condenser, incorporating governing equations for the transfer of heat and mass. This model is intended to be validated by a small-scale HDH desalination setup. Furthermore, the paper introduces a novel multi-objective heuristic gradient projection (MO-HGP) optimization technique. This method simultaneously considers objectives of maximizing freshwater production rate and system performance efficiency, leveraging heuristic principles and gradient projection to identify optimal system configurations. After applying the optimization and machine learning technique, a detailed analysis of performance improvements is compared to conventional approaches. Finally, to enhance efficiency and promote wider adoption, the research implements the integration of a solar tracking system (STS) into an existing HDH desalination unit. The theoretical and practical impacts of STS on increased solar energy collection and its direct correlation with higher freshwater production rates are analyzed. Through this integrated approach of theoretical modeling, and advanced optimization, including solar tracking, this paper demonstrates the potential for a significant average annual efficiency improvement of approximately 23%. This advancement substantially enhances the viability of solar-powered HDH desalination, particularly for remote areas with significant solar exposure and limited water availability, offering a pathway for more sustainable water resource management.

This paper presents an analysis of the impact of full and partial curfews on water demand and production, as imposed in Kuwait during the meteorological spring (March, April, and May) of 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We consider all desalination technologies used in Kuwait: Multi-Stage Flash (MSF), Multi-Effect Thermal Vapor Compression (MED-TVC), and Reverse Osmosis (RO). Historical data and predictive models are combined and analyzed via a statistical genetic algorithm. The environmental and economic implications of the lockdown measures were assessed through quantitative evaluation, comparing actual 2020 water demand and production data with values predicted under normal operating conditions. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, water consumption surged, with maximum daily consumption climbing by 3.6%, and average daily consumption by 5.2%. These values were significant increases relative to 2019, for which the corresponding figures were 2.1% and 1.6%. The study assesses the economic and environmental consequences quantitatively, specifically the increase in CO, CO2, and NOx emissions, due to the increase in fuel consumption at desalination and power plants. Water demand and production across the national water network were simulated using mathematical models specifically designed for this purpose, developed from data provided by the Meteorological Department of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy.