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Seasonal dynamic modeling and simulation of solar thermal membrane desalination system for sustainable freshwater production: a case study of Tanta, Egypt

Author

Listed:
  • S. A. El-Agouz

    (Tanta University
    Delta Technological University)

  • Ayman Refat Abd Elbar

    (Tanta University)

  • Mohamed E. Zayed

    (Tanta University)

  • Ali M. Aboghazala

    (Tanta University)

  • Mohamed Z. Khatab

    (Tanta University)

  • M. Y. Zakaria

    (Military Technical College)

  • Khaled Khodary Esmaeil

    (Tanta University)

Abstract

Membrane distillation (MD) is an effective process for desalinating seawater, combining the merits of both thermal and membrane distillation. In this context, the sizing methodologies and optimization strategies are developed from the balance of the system’s energy demand. Therefore, accurate numerical modeling of the heat transfer and thermodynamic behavior of the MD systems is crucial for the optimal design of solar-based MD systems. The interest in utilizing solar thermal heating techniques for feed water heating in MD systems is increasing worldwide for sustainable freshwater production and lowering energy consumption. Hence, in this research, a coupled analytical modeling based on heat transfer, mass transport, and thermodynamic analysis is created to dynamically simulate a solar direct contact membrane distillation system (SDCMDS) driven by vacuumed tubes solar collectors (VTSCs) to analyze its performance, under real weather of Tanta, Egypt. The influences of the solar collecting area on the performances of the proposed SDCMDS for augmenting the freshwater production of the SDCMDS are studied. Four cases of the proposed SDCMDS are investigated: two identical VTSCs of 1.80 m2 each unit in summer (Case I), two identical VTSCs in winter (Case II), four identical VTSCs in summer (Case III), and four identical VTSCs in winter (Case IV). The results show that the utilization of four VTSCs connected in series significantly improved the feed seawater temperature range from 30.0 to 70.5 °C compared to a feed temperature range of 30.0–49.5 was achievable by utilizing only two VTSCs. Moreover, the daily averaged permeate flux were 2.21, 1.29, 3.41, and 2.07 L/day per m2 of solar harvesting area with daily cumulative distilled water yield of 7.48, 4.60, 23.04, and 14.78 L/day for Cases I, II, III, and IV, respectively, at a saline flowrate of 0.20 kg/s. The daily average total efficiency of the SDCMDS was obtained to be 14.70%, 12.50%, 24.95%, and 22.50% for Cases I, II, III, and IV, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • S. A. El-Agouz & Ayman Refat Abd Elbar & Mohamed E. Zayed & Ali M. Aboghazala & Mohamed Z. Khatab & M. Y. Zakaria & Khaled Khodary Esmaeil, 2025. "Seasonal dynamic modeling and simulation of solar thermal membrane desalination system for sustainable freshwater production: a case study of Tanta, Egypt," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 10083-10108, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04299-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-04299-2
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    1. Li, Qiyuan & Beier, Lisa-Jil & Tan, Joel & Brown, Celia & Lian, Boyue & Zhong, Wenwei & Wang, Yuan & Ji, Chao & Dai, Pan & Li, Tianyu & Le Clech, Pierre & Tyagi, Himanshu & Liu, Xuefei & Leslie, Greg , 2019. "An integrated, solar-driven membrane distillation system for water purification and energy generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C), pages 534-548.
    2. Zaragoza, G. & Ruiz-Aguirre, A. & Guillén-Burrieza, E., 2014. "Efficiency in the use of solar thermal energy of small membrane desalination systems for decentralized water production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 491-499.
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