Performance evaluation of a solar-powered membrane capacitive deionization system considering energy recovery
Freshwater scarcity remains a global challenge, necessitating sustainable and energy-efficient desalination technologies. Membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) offers a promising alternative to conventional methods due to its lower energy consumption and potential for energy recovery, making it pa...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025016226 |
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| Summary: | Freshwater scarcity remains a global challenge, necessitating sustainable and energy-efficient desalination technologies. Membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) offers a promising alternative to conventional methods due to its lower energy consumption and potential for energy recovery, making it particularly suitable for off-grid and rural applications. This study investigates the performance of a compact MCDI unit powered by an off-grid photovoltaic (PV) system with battery storage. An experimental approach was adopted to assess the impact of charging current and feed water flow rate on desalination performance and energy recovery. Results indicate that increasing the supplied current from 2 A to 8 A enhances the desalination rate by 49 %, while reducing the flow rate from 1.4 l/min to 0.2 l/min improves desalination efficiency by 25 %. The maximum energy recovery from the MCDI module reaches 17.55 % under a 4 A charging current and 1300 ppm feedwater salinity, with an energy consumption of 0.962 kJ/l of treated saline water. Economic analysis reveals that the system achieves a payback period of less than one year when the treated water price exceeds 0.034 USD/l. The results confirm that the proposed PV-MCDI system is an energy-efficient and cost-effective solution for desalination, particularly in remote areas. Additionally, the integration of renewable energy reduces fossil fuel reliance and minimizes environmental impact, making it a sustainable solution for brackish water treatment. |
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| ISSN: | 2590-1230 |