Improvement in energy efficiency of solar powered Reverse Osmosis by modification in membrane morphology and recovery of thermal energy from solar photovoltaic panel

Abstract

Membrane processes require energy to produce water since the driving force for water transport is pressure. Solar powered Reverse Osmosis has been recognized as one of the promising technologies to curtail greenhouse gas emissions and also for stand-alone reverse osmosis systems at remote locations. newlineThe present doctoral work aims at increasing overall energy efficiency by following: newline1. Extracting waste heat from solar PV panels newline2. Utilization of captured thermal energy newline3. Modification in polyamide layer of thin film composite membrane to improve permeability newlineThis interdisciplinary approach is novel and demonstrated the substantial decline in energy consumption of renewable powered desalination.