Design of a PV/T based desalination plant: Concept and assessment

The use of solar energy is promoted for water pumping and desalination especially in remote areas. For a reverse osmosis desalination plant, an increase in brackish water temperature allows an improvement in the recovery ratio, a saving in the required electrical energy, and a reduction in salt rejection. In this paper a conception of a reverse osmosis standalone desalination plant powered by Photovoltaic Thermal panels is established. A plant model is developed in order to assess the plant performances. Simulation results evince economic and ecologie advantages of the use of Photovoltaic Thermal panels in a standalone reverse osmosis desalination plant.