A photovoltaic-powered system for water desalination

The potential of the development of water desalination using a photovoltaic-powered system in Jordan is discussed. A reverse osmosis (RO) desalination system driven by photovoltaic power is proposed. A simulation model for the prediction of the PV specific power delivered for a given value of the global insolation is adopted. Based on available average solar radiation data and salinity of the feed water, the amount of water that can be produced at different sites is calculated. It was found that Shoubak, Aqaba, Azraq and Amman are the most favorable sites for photovoltaic RO desalination systems. With a TDS of 7000 mg/L, the annual amount of water production for these sites was 329, 320, 304 and 301 m3, respectively; 65% of the treated water is produced in the months of April through September, the driest months in the country, where water is needed the most.

Fig. 9. Annual water production for favorable sites. Most solar sites show that they have favorable application towards photovoltaic-powered RO desalination system in Jordan. Shoubak, Aqaba, Azraq and Amman are the most favorable sites, and their annual water production was very close to each other. The annual water production of the proposed system at these sites is 329, 320, 304, and 301 m3. Experimental work needs to be carried out to study the performance of this system and economic assessment of the proposed system should be performed. These two issues will be discussed in a forthcoming paper.