The Brazilian experience with a photovoltaic powered reverse osmosis plant

This article describes a system that combines the technologies of reverse osmosis and photovoltaics to realize a pioneer project for drinking water supply to a rural community in semi‐arid Brazil (latitude 3°44′S), with a local yearly average temperature of 28°C and a yearly solar potential of about 2000 kW h m−2. Two strategies are investigated: first the PV‐RO (photovoltaic powered reverse osmosis) plant is equipped with a DC motor; and second, a three‐phase induction motor is used. Through the analysis of the stored data the second option is chosen as the better alternative. This strategy has a specific electrical consumption (energy required to produce 1 m3 drinking water) of 3·03 kW h m−3, a recovery ratio of 27% (relation between drinking water product flow and brackish water input flow) and a drinking water cost of US$ 12·76 per m3. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.