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Power Management of a Combined Humidifier-Dehumidifier and Reverse Osmosis (RO-HDH) Desalination Cycle Using Renewable Energy

Asgharzadeh Karam Shahlu, Alireza | 2025

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 58473 (08)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Mechanical Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Saeedi, Mohammad Hassan; Aryanpour, Masoud
  7. Abstract:
  8. Desalination systems play a crucial role in providing drinking water in arid and semi-arid regions. Among them, combined dehumidifier-humidity absorber and reverse osmosis desalination systems are of particular importance due to their high efficiency and adaptability to renewable energy sources. The combined dehumidifier-humidity absorber and reverse osmosis desalination system, as an innovative technology, simultaneously uses the processes of moisture absorption and release to extract water from the air, along with reverse osmosis for desalting seawater. These systems can operate sustainably and efficiently by utilizing renewable energy sources such as solar or wind energy. Additionally, the use of batteries for storing excess energy enables continuous operation of these systems, reducing dependence on fossil fuel resources. This combination provides an effective solution for water supply in dry and water-scarce regions with minimal environmental impact. In this study, the power management of a combined dehumidifier-humidity absorber and reverse osmosis desalination system was examined. The mentioned desalination system has a capacity of 8.9 cubic meters per day. In the optimal condition, where the system consumes the least power and produces the highest amount of freshwater, it consumes 700 watts of power and produces 37 liters per hour of freshwater for every 370 liters per hour of seawater input. The water production index is 0.1. A solar power system was designed using HOMER software to supply the power for this combined desalination system, enabling it to operate 24/7 and produce freshwater. In the HOMER software, a 20-year project was defined with an inflation rate of 22.2% and a nominal interest rate of 23% based on the country's economy, and a technical and economic evaluation was carried out. The technical evaluation showed that the solar system consists of 23 solar panels, 8 batteries, and a converter with a capacity of 1.68 kW, which converts the direct current produced by the solar panels and batteries into alternating current for use in the combined dehumidifier-humidity absorber and reverse osmosis desalination system. The solar panels and batteries are arranged in parallel, and the batteries used in this study are lithium-ion NMC with a capacity of 94 amp-hours, with their charge and discharge cycles throughout the day being analyzed. The economic evaluation of the system showed that the total project cost for 20 years is $22,576, and the cost of producing 1 cubic meter of freshwater using the combined desalination system is $3.5. Additionally, an experimental study on increasing the efficiency of solar panels was conducted, and an innovative method to reduce the surface temperature of solar panels and enhance their efficiency was proposed for use in larger-scale solar systems alongside the desalination system. Finally, the batteries used in this study were thermally analyzed in ANSYS Fluent software, and the results showed that during a 24-hour charge and discharge cycle, their temperature increased by 6.3°C, reaching 31.3°C due to the low charge and discharge rate, indicating the need for a cooling system to prevent battery degradation
  9. Keywords:
  10. Humidifier-Dehumidifier Desalination ; Hybrid Desalination ; Reverse Osmosis ; Lithium Ion Batteries ; Solar Panel ; Thermal Analysis ; HOMER Software ; Renewable Energy Resources

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