Optimization and design of a low-cost, village-scale, photovoltaic-powered, electrodialysis reversal desalination system for rural India
Bian DW, Watson SM, Wright NC, Shah SR, Buonassisi T, Ramanujan D, Peters IM, Winter AG (2019)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2019
Journal
Book Volume: 452
Pages Range: 265-278
DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2018.09.004
Abstract
This paper presents the cost optimization of a photovoltaic-powered electrodialysis reversal (PV-EDR) system for village-scale applications in rural India based on current component costs and performance. A PV-EDR alternative was explored because it requires half the specific energy (and thus half the power system cost), and reduces water wastage from 60% to less than 10%, compared to small-scale reverse osmosis (RO) systems for groundwater salinity levels commonly found in India. Through co-optimization of the PV and EDR subsystems, the optimal system was predicted to cost $23,420 (42% less than a system designed using conventional engineering practice). A key to the cost reduction was flexible water production that accommodates daily changes in solar irradiance with overproduction on sunny days and water buffer storage tanks. A sensitivity analysis revealed that the capital cost of the total system is most sensitive to membrane area; reducing membrane cost by 87% would half the system capital cost. The optimization method presented here, as well as the cost saving strategies of time-variant operation and load matching with solar irradiance availability, provide design strategies that are relevant to other PV-EDR architectures and general off-grid desalination applications.
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United States (USA) (US)How to cite
APA:
Bian, D.W., Watson, S.M., Wright, N.C., Shah, S.R., Buonassisi, T., Ramanujan, D.,... Winter, A.G. (2019). Optimization and design of a low-cost, village-scale, photovoltaic-powered, electrodialysis reversal desalination system for rural India. Desalination, 452, 265-278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2018.09.004
MLA:
Bian, David W., et al. "Optimization and design of a low-cost, village-scale, photovoltaic-powered, electrodialysis reversal desalination system for rural India." Desalination 452 (2019): 265-278.
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