Integrated Techno-Environmental-Economic and thermal assessment of a Solar-Powered HDH-RO-Battery desalination system

Ensuring a continuous freshwater supply in off-grid regions is challenging due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy and the high energy demand of desalination. This study presents a solar-powered hybrid humidification-dehumidification and reverse osmosis (HDH-RO) desalination system integrated with lithium-ion (NMC) battery storage for fully autonomous ۲۴-hour operation. A coupled techno-economic and thermal modeling framework was developed, linking HOMER Pro (v۳.۱۸.۳) optimization with ANSYS Fluent (۲۰۲۲R۲) transient thermal simulations of the battery pack to ensure cost-effective performance and verify battery thermal safety. The optimized configuration comprising a ۷.۵ kW photovoltaic array, eight ۹۴ Ah batteries, and a ۱.۶۸ kW converter delivers a steady ۰.۷ kW load, producing freshwater at a levelized cost of ۰.۹۵ /m³ and a net present cost of ۲۵,۹۴۶ , ۲۴% lower than a diesel-powered system. Thermal analysis showed a maximum ۶.۳ K temperature rise in the battery cells over ۲۴ hours, confirming safe operation without active cooling. The proposed system demonstrates its practical feasibility for implementation in Hengam Island, representing a viable and sustainable solution for continuous, off-grid freshwater production in coastal regions. In addition to powering desalination, the PV-battery configuration generates surplus clean electricity, serving as a dual-purpose energy-water system that substantially reduces diesel dependence and emissions, achieving an annual reduction of about ۹.۸ tons of air pollutants. The results highlight a scalable, integrated, and zero-emission energy-water system for sustainable development in isolated island regions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Solar-Powered Desalination ، Hybrid HDH-RO System ، Lithium-Ion (NMC) Battery Storage ، Techno-Economic Analysis ، Off-Grid Freshwater Production