TITLE:
Assessing the Effectiveness of Solar Photovoltaic Powered Reverse Osmosis Desalination Systems across Different Water Resources in Saudi Arabia
AUTHORS:
O. S. Abd El-Kawi
KEYWORDS:
Solar Photovoltaic (PV)-Powered Reverse Osmosis, Water Sources
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modern Hydrology,
Vol.15 No.1,
January
6,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study investigates the performance of a solar photovoltaic (PV)-powered reverse osmosis (RO) desalination system applied to diverse water sources in the Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia, including seawater, groundwater, rainwater, municipal water, and brackish water. Key water quality parameters including Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), salinity, and Specific Gravity (SG) were measured before and after desalination to assess system effectiveness. Results showed significant reductions in TDS, EC, and salinity levels across all water types, with seawater and brackish water achieving salt rejection rates of 98.32% and 99.16%, respectively. Post-desalination TDS for seawater decreased from 25,000 mg/L to 420 mg/L and for brackish water from 11,900 mg/L to 100 mg/L, achieving potable standards. pH values remained stable within potable standards, while EC values for seawater and brackish water dropped from 50,000 µS/cm to 484 µS/cm and from 12,000 µS/cm to 95 µS/cm, respectively. Water recovery rates varied from 70% to 95.33%, with the highest recovery observed in rainwater and groundwater samples. The overall desalination efficiency was highest for seawater and brackish water, at 82.96% and 84.5%, respectively, demonstrating the PV-RO system’s capability to provide high-quality, potable water from a variety of sources. This study underscores the potential of solar-powered RO technology as a sustainable solution for desalination in regions with diverse water sources and limited access to electricity.