Design and sizing of small-scale photovoltaic (PV)‎ cells powered reverse osmosis (RO)‎ desalination system for water supply in remote locations

Abstract EN

This paper present the design and sizing of a small-scale solar photovoltaic powered reverse osmosis purification system that provides drinking water to domestic or small group in a remote area in Babil Governorate in south Iraq.

The aim of this study is to estimate an optimum PV system to power the RO that produces 20 l/h (0.35 M3 /day ) at constant daily load profile.

The system designed based on brackish waters at a (Total dissolve solid (TDS) value of 1500-2000 mg/L) from well in mention area, The PV and solar source simulated by TRANSYS16 Software to evaluate various PV-RO system.

The results indicated requires energy of approximately 216.5 Wp with about 38 hours battery storage that can operate the RO unit continually after the sunset .

The RO systems powered by PV panels have many advantages, such as lowest operation cost , simple operation , environmentally friendly , easy installation and maintenance, high reliability and suitability for brackish water.