CPV-T mirror dish system combined with water desalination systems

Abstract

Abstract. In this work a combined system consisting of a CPV and thermal (CPV-T) system connected with a reverse osmosis (RO) and membrane distillation (MD) for desalination is presented. In the CPV-T electrical energy is generated. The electrical energy is partly needed to run the desalination systems (e.g. pumps). The surplus electricity can be fed into the grid or an electrical storage system. The reverse osmosis process is the most energy efficient and established way of desalting brackish water and high volumes of pure water can be reached. However, with rising salinity the specific energy consumption (SEC) of RO rises significantly. Therefore, a second desalination system is introduced, the MD. The distillation is driven by the difference in temperature and vapor pressure of two fluid cycles. Hence, in the MD the thermal energy generated in the CPV-T system is used to heat the cycle of the high temperature side. The MD process runs with low temperature heat (<100 °C) and its SEC is less sensitive to the water salinity than the RO-process. Therefore MD is suitable to achieve high brine salinity by further concentrating the brine resulting from the RO-process. The connection in series of the both desalination technologies is especially useful to treat brackish water that is often found in high DNI regions, thus match to the CPV technology very well. The scarce water resources in dry regions are of high value and should therefore be as fully used as possible. In addition, the quantity of brine that needs to be disposed of is reduced when concentrating to a high salinity.

Recent Desalination Technologies by Hybridization and Integration with Reverse Osmosis: A Review

“…The use of RO coupled to Membrane Distillation systems (MD) allows for taking the electrical and thermal energy of the Concentrating Photo Voltaic Thermal (CPVT) collectors. The concentrated brine produced in the RO unit was used as feed to the MD unit, a strategy that increased the production of fresh water and reduced the brine amount, obtaining a recovery rate of 92% and a thermal efficiency of 79.2% [232]. Hybrid systems allow the integrated use of different energy sources, while they can produce fresh water, hot water, and electricity.…”

A Review on CSP and CPVT Technologies: Energy, Economic Analysis and Recycling towards Circular Economy

“…148 In contrast, Wiesenfarth et al studied integrating the CPVT system with reverse osmosis and membrane distillation to produce desalinated water from brackish water with high salinity freshwater, but not as much as seawater. 149 Besides that, some studies have reported that the CPVT system can also act as a hot water supply system. 181 CPVT system can also be integrated with the organic Rankine cycle to produce energy, as shown in some studies.…”

A review of concentrated photovoltaic-thermal (CPVT) hybrid solar systems with waste heat recovery (WHR)

“…Wiesenfarth et al [220] combined the MD and RO water desalination to a CPVT system. As shown in Fig.…”

“…(Color online) The MD and RO desalination system based on a CVPT system. Reprinted with permission from Ref [220]…”