Design and Simulation of a Solar-Powered Reverse OsmosisDesalination System for Brackish Water in Arid Regions: A Case Study for Al-Egailat -Libya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65405/xyyj4477Keywords:
Solar desalination, Reverse Osmosis (RO), Brackish water, Al-Egailat, Libya, Renewable energy, Off-grid systems, Photovoltaic power systemsAbstract
Desalination powered by renewable energy is still not widely applied. Its development
is limited to pilot plants and small units, mainly located in remote areas. This paper
proposes the Water Higher Technical Institute (WHTI) – Al-Egailat city for
theoretical study of such a system to desalinate brackish water using RO system
powered by solar PV on small scale. All the data used are based on a statistical solar
energy available from historical charts and the proposal data of a PV-powered RO
system suited for such design purpose from trusted manufactured company.
Al-Egailat city (South Mediterranean coast) is highly qualified for testing of such
systems since it has a huge water aquifer and several water well of a salinity of (2500)
ppm., the paper presents the design of the PV-powered RO water desalination system.
Based on the climate conditions in Al-Egailat, the paper presents a comprehensive
design and simulation of a standalone solar-powered reverse osmosis (RO)
desalination system for brackish water producing 20 m³/day of freshwater. The
study covers:
• System sizing (PV, battery, RO units).
• Energy-water nexus optimization.
• Simulation results (PVsyst, HOMER Pro).
• Economic and environmental benefits(health and social conditions).
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• Building up of local capabilities and expertise in the field of water
desalination by solar electric systems.
The proposed system uses 18 KWp solar PV, 138 kWh LiFePO₄ storage, and four
parallel 5 m³/day RO units, achieving a Levelized Cost of Water (LCOW) of $0.50–
0.80/m³, making it viable for off-grid communities.
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