Operating analysis of a direct energy coupled desalination family prototype

A desalination family prototype has been designed in a laboratory supplying good quality water for drinking and household cooking needs. The available intermittent and fluctuating energy source (solar or wind) has made us explore the coupling of such a source to a prototype that operates itself in an intermittent mode by integrating an energy storage dissipation system in the prototype schema. Such a coupling allows reducing the energy constraint linked to the production, defining an optimal storage capacity and cancelling the resource to complex classic systems of storage that increase the cost of m3 of water produced. This study allows the evaluation of the performances of the prototype and optimises its functioning in terms of energy availability. Thus, we confirmed the contribution of the storage dissipation system when using solar energy for water desalination, and the advantages brought by the use of this system in terms of a continuous operating mode by excluding the effects of source fluctuations. Key words: Desalination; Reverse osmosis; Photovoltaic

This work was carried out to evaluate the performances of a desalination family prototype in perspective of optimising its operation as a function of energy availability. We confirmed the contribution of the storage dissipation system when using solar energy. This system removes the perturbation due to short cloud passages. In fact, the autonomy system can reach 780 s for (Π/4) the aperture reject brine valve position. However, a manual operated valve is arbitrary and results were less than satisfactory. To maintain a continuous and efficient operation, a feed back control mechanism will be installed.