Enhancing the efficacy of humidifier-dehumidifier desalination in humid regions through the use of an absorption refrigeration cycle (an economic and experimental investigation)

Abstract

This experimental study investigates the performance of a novel humidifier-dehumidifier (HDH) desalination system integrated with a vapor absorption refrigerator (VAR) and photovoltaic (PV) panels for humid regions. The effects of air mass flow rate (m˙ a) and inlet air temperature on key performance indicators were evaluated. Increasing m˙ a from 0.0039 kg/s to 0.0071 kg/s led to a 73 % increase in freshwater output, a 35 % increase in Coefficient of Performance (COP), a 100 % increase in Gain of Output Ratio (GOR), and a 75 % increase in Recovery Ratio (RR), but a 20 % decrease in dehumidifier efficiency. The maximum freshwater production rate of 870 g/h and a GOR of 1.4 were obtained at m˙ a= 0.0071 kg/s and inlet air temperature of 50 ◦C, representing a 117 % increase compared to the lowest temperature and flow rate tested. The cost of freshwater for solar and electric operation modes was 0.075 and 0.094 USD/kg, respectively. The system’s novelty lies in the integration of HDH desalination with a VAR and PV system, enabling continuous freshwater production even under cloudy or nighttime conditions. The findings demonstrate the potential of the proposed system for sustainable fresh water production in humid areas.