Lecture: The Design and Control of Modular Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis Systems
Abstract
Providing clean energy and clean water for remote locations such as desert facilities, farming operations, resorts, and small villages can be logistically complex and expensive. Many of these arid locations have access to seawater or brackish groundwater and desalination is a natural solution for these regions. Also, areas with water shortages typically have clear skies. Photovoltaic reverse osmosis systems exploit the complementary nature of this problem. Small‐scale systems need to be designed and fabricated to meet the specific demands of an application and its location. Unfortunately, custom designed systems are expensive and require significant expertise. As the price of photovoltaic cells decrease, the design and assembly of these systems is becoming a significant portion of the system cost. In order to reduce the cost, systems will need to be assembled from inventories of standard components and subsystems that can be mass produced. The analysis required to best configure a system would be beyond the expertise found in most parts of the world. Modular design algorithms can be used to automatically configure a photovoltaic reverse osmosis system for any location.
This talk will review the feasibility of small‐scale photovoltaic reverse osmosis systems. Also, an introduction will be given to the modular design algorithms currently being developed. An overview of photovoltaic reverse osmosis system models and an experimental photovoltaic reverse osmosis system will also be presented.
For more information call Eroulla Cadd on 22208600 or alternatively email e [dot] cadd [at] cyi [dot] ac [dot] cy
