IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v337y2025ics0360544225043762.html

Dynamic modeling and analysis of a direct contact membrane distillation system with heat recovery

Author

Listed:
  • Yang, Chuanjun
  • Li, Zhongsheng
  • Shahzad, Muhammad Wakil
  • Cui, Xin
  • Chen, Qian

Abstract

Direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) driven by low-grade heat sources respresents a sustainable solution to exisitng water scarcity challenges. However, current studies primarily focus on steady-state analyses on isolated modules, limiting the understanding of dynamic behaviors for multi-component coupled systems. The present work investigates the transient performance of a solar-powered DCMD system with heat recovery (HR). A dynamic model is established and validated with experimental data. Subsequent system analyses reveal that membrane module scale significantly influences dynamic responses under various thermal perturbations. When subjected to a 20 % stepwise heat source temperature disturbance, the response time escalates by 140.8 % as the membrane length increases from 2 m to 10 m. A longer membrane module also demonstrates remarkable capability in attenuating periodic temperature fluctuations originating from intermittent solar input. Additionally, the improved thermal storage capacity mitigates the dynamic fluctuations of the system when powered by solar energy, thus prolonging high-performance operation and reducing specific energy consumption by 4.4–13.2 %. The characteristic response time of DCMD system (100–200 s) proves to be an order of magnitude shorter than conventional desalination technologies, establishing its unique advantage in rapid-response solar applications. These findings offer valuable guidance for engineering applications and the development of control strategies for solar-powered DCMD-HR system.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Chuanjun & Li, Zhongsheng & Shahzad, Muhammad Wakil & Cui, Xin & Chen, Qian, 2025. "Dynamic modeling and analysis of a direct contact membrane distillation system with heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:337:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225043762
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.138734
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544225043762
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2025.138734?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ali, Ali Seid & Bounahmidi, Tijani, 2025. "Photovoltaic-thermal driven membrane distillation water desalination: Dynamic simulation in an actual weather condition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    2. Chen, Q. & Kum Ja, M. & Li, Y. & Chua, K.J., 2018. "Evaluation of a solar-powered spray-assisted low-temperature desalination technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 997-1008.
    3. Ma, Can & Zhang, Taiyu & Jiang, Zhiyu & Ren, Zhengru, 2025. "Dynamic analysis of lowering operations during floating offshore wind turbine assembly mating," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    4. Han, Xinyue & Ding, Fan & Huang, Ju & Zhao, Xiaobo, 2023. "Hybrid nanofluid filtered concentrating photovoltaic/thermal-direct contact membrane distillation system for co-production of electricity and freshwater," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    5. Zhao, Qin & Zhang, Houcheng & Hu, Ziyang & Li, Yangyang, 2021. "An alkaline fuel cell/direct contact membrane distillation hybrid system for cogenerating electricity and freshwater," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    6. Pérez, Karla & Díaz-Quezada, Simón & Zamora, Daniel & Estay, Humberto, 2025. "Heat pump assisted air gap and direct contact membrane distillation configurations: Comparative simulations of industrial scale cases at the water-energy nexus," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    7. Ali, Kabbir & Abdelsamie, Mostafa M. & Hassan Ali, Mohamed I., 2024. "Toward sustainable energy resource: Integrated concentrated photovoltaic and membrane distillation systems for fresh water and electricity production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    8. Ma, Qiuming & Xu, Zhenyuan & Wang, Ruzhu & Poredoš, Primož, 2022. "Distributed vacuum membrane distillation driven by direct-solar heating at ultra-low temperature," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PA).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Wanshi & Li, Xiuwei & Cheng, Feng, 2025. "Capacitive deionization desalination by electricity localization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ali, Ali Seid & Bounahmidi, Tijani, 2025. "Photovoltaic-thermal driven membrane distillation water desalination: Dynamic simulation in an actual weather condition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    2. Ahmed E. Abu El-Maaty & Mohamed M. Awad & Gamal I. Sultan & Ahmed M. Hamed, 2023. "Innovative Approaches to Solar Desalination: A Comprehensive Review of Recent Research," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-31, May.
    3. Chen, Qian & Alrowais, Raid & Burhan, Muhammad & Ybyraiymkul, Doskhan & Shahzad, Muhammad Wakil & Li, Yong & Ng, Kim Choon, 2020. "A self-sustainable solar desalination system using direct spray technology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    4. Cai, Benan & Long, Chengjun & Du, Qiaochen & Zhang, Wenchao & Hou, Yandong & Wang, Haijun & Cai, Weihua, 2023. "Analysis of a spray flash desalination system driven by low-grade waste heat with different intermittencies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    5. Zhang, Xin & Li, Jingwen & Xiong, Yi & Ang, Yee Sin, 2022. "Efficient harvesting of low-grade waste heat from proton exchange membrane fuel cells via thermoradiative power devices," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    6. Chen, Qian & Burhan, Muhammad & Akhtar, Faheem Hassan & Ybyraiymkul, Doskhan & Shahzad, Muhammad Wakil & Li, Yong & Ng, Kim Choon, 2021. "A decentralized water/electricity cogeneration system integrating concentrated photovoltaic/thermal collectors and vacuum multi-effect membrane distillation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    7. Diao, Kelong & Dong, Tianheng & Yang, Moucun & Lu, Jingui & Zhu, Yuezhao, 2025. "Surface-modified WO2.9/oil nanofluid with self-forming Si-O-Si encapsulation for ultra-stable spectral splitting in solar PV/T systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    8. Wang, Qiushi & Liang, Shen & Zhu, Ziye & Wu, Gang & Su, Yuehong & Zheng, Hongfei, 2019. "Performance of seawater-filling type planting system based on solar distillation process: Numerical and experimental investigation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 1225-1234.
    9. Wang, Mingli & Ruan, Jiafen & Zhang, Jian & Jiang, Yefan & Gao, Fei & Zhang, Xin & Rahman, Ehsanur & Guo, Juncheng, 2024. "Modeling, thermodynamic performance analysis, and parameter optimization of a hybrid power generation system coupling thermogalvanic cells with alkaline fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    10. Ali, Kabbir & Abdelsamie, Mostafa M. & Hassan Ali, Mohamed I., 2024. "Toward sustainable energy resource: Integrated concentrated photovoltaic and membrane distillation systems for fresh water and electricity production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    11. Guo, Yunzhao & Zhang, Huiping & Fu, Kaiyun & Chen, Xianfu & Qiu, Minghui & Fan, Yiqun, 2023. "Integration of solid acid catalyst and ceramic membrane to boost amine-based CO2 desorption," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    12. Dawahdeh, Ahmad I. & Al-Nimr, Moh’d A. & Al-Sarhan, Tala N., 2025. "Performance evaluation for a high temperature alkaline fuel cell integrated with thermal vapor compression desalination," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 377(PD).
    13. Wang, Jiazhi & Song, Zhaobo & Shi, Wei & Wang, Shuaishuai & Wang, Wenhua & Haider, Rizwan & Li, Xin, 2025. "Design and coupled analysis of a novel floating offshore wind turbine combined with a fish cage for deep water," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    14. Chen, Q. & Ja, M. Kum & Li, Y. & Chua, K.J., 2019. "Energy, exergy and economic analysis of a hybrid spray-assisted low-temperature desalination/thermal vapor compression system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 871-885.
    15. Rostami, Shayan & Asghari, Mahdi & Jalali, Alireza, 2025. "A comprehensive 4E assessment of a solar-powered direct contact membrane distillation system for sustainable greywater management in residential buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    16. Wang, Qiushi & Zhu, Ziye & Wu, Gang & Zhang, Xiang & Zheng, Hongfei, 2018. "Energy analysis and experimental verification of a solar freshwater self-produced ecological film floating on the sea," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 510-526.
    17. Chen, Q. & Ja, M. Kum & Li, Y. & Chua, K.J., 2018. "Energy, economic and environmental (3E) analysis and multi-objective optimization of a spray-assisted low-temperature desalination system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 387-401.
    18. Zhu, Huichao & Xiao, Liusheng & Kuang, Min & Wang, Jiatang & Zhang, Houcheng, 2024. "Innovative use of air gap membrane distillation to harvest waste heat from alkaline fuel cell for efficient freshwater production: A comprehensive 4E study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    19. Calise, Francesco & Cappiello, Francesco Liberato & Vanoli, Raffaele & Vicidomini, Maria, 2019. "Economic assessment of renewable energy systems integrating photovoltaic panels, seawater desalination and water storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    20. Song, Daiwang & Zhou, Jie & Wang, Shenghui & Wang, Chengpeng & Liu, Sihan & Zhang, Yin & Tian, Lin & Xiao, Yexiang, 2023. "Adaptability evaluation of piston type high pressure pump integrated with energy recovery device through the numerical simulation and one year's island desalination," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PA).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:337:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225043762. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.