Simulation and optimization of pilot reverse osmosis desalination plant powered by photovoltaic solar energy

Solar photovoltaic (PV) can easily power the electrical membrane desalination processes at low specific power consumption (SPC), kWh/m3. Direct contact with the desalination pump systems is considered as a remarkable advantage for such techniques. In this work, solar PV with/without battery bank is connected to the reverse osmosis (RO) desalination system for a production rate of 1–10 m3/d. The system is aiming to produce a freshwater from brackish water sources. MATLAB/Simulink toolbox is used to simulate the real system under different operating conditions. In real time simulation is presented to measure the performance system during the day. Genetic algorithm is also used to optimize the system performance under different operating conditions. Results reveal that, increasing the solar radiation would increase the production system rate. The optimum system SPC is recorded between 2.5 and 4.5 kWh/m3. Meanwhile, the optimum recovery ratio for the RO is recorded between 15% and 19.5%.