Performance analysis of a water desalination system using humidification and dehumidification techniques with thermoelectric cooling unit

In this paper, a humidification and dehumidification (HDH) desalination system is developed using an evaporative pad and thermoelectric cooling (TEC) units to condense water vapor to increase water production with minimum energy consumption. In contrast to typical HDH systems, which are based on nat...

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Main Authors: Ali M. Ashour, Saif Ali Kadhim, Moafaq K.S. Al-Ghezi, Issa Omle, Ravishankar Sathyamurthy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25009311
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author Ali M. Ashour
Saif Ali Kadhim
Moafaq K.S. Al-Ghezi
Issa Omle
Ravishankar Sathyamurthy
author_facet Ali M. Ashour
Saif Ali Kadhim
Moafaq K.S. Al-Ghezi
Issa Omle
Ravishankar Sathyamurthy
author_sort Ali M. Ashour
collection DOAJ
description In this paper, a humidification and dehumidification (HDH) desalination system is developed using an evaporative pad and thermoelectric cooling (TEC) units to condense water vapor to increase water production with minimum energy consumption. In contrast to typical HDH systems, which are based on natural heat sources or external condensers, the intended approach forms a thermally coupled setup where air humidification is improved by the evaporative pad, whilst the TEC modules provide localized condensation through preserving a cold sink surface simultaneously. The investigation was concentrated on the major operating conditions, such as air velocity (0.5–5 m/s), input voltage of the TEC (5–16 V), and seasonal environmental conditions, to assess the performance of the system as per water productivity, coefficient of performance (COP), gain output ratio (GOR), recovery ratio (RR), and effectiveness. The optimum performance is at 9 V and air velocity of 0.5–1.0 m/s, where equilibrium between electrical consumption and cooling capacity is established. The system produced daily fresh water anywhere between 1400 mL/day when it was hot and dry and 1800 mL/day when it was cooler and more humid. The maximum indicated GOR was 1.374, and the maximum COP of approximately 0.78 under optimal conditions was observed. The daily performance was the best in the morning and evening, when lower temperatures and higher humidities enhanced efficiency of condensation. The research gives us clues to improve the performance of the HDH system under optimized operating conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-cfe02cb88d3d4f859b5ac344eb0f55222025-08-20T02:36:34ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-09-017310667110.1016/j.csite.2025.106671Performance analysis of a water desalination system using humidification and dehumidification techniques with thermoelectric cooling unitAli M. Ashour0Saif Ali Kadhim1Moafaq K.S. Al-Ghezi2Issa Omle3Ravishankar Sathyamurthy4College of Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology- Iraq, Baghdad, IraqCollege of Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology- Iraq, Baghdad, IraqCollege of Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology- Iraq, Baghdad, IraqInstitute of Physics and Electrical Engineering, University of Miskolc, Miskolc, Hungary; Corresponding author.Department of Mechanical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, 31621, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; IRC Sustainable Energy Systems (IRC-SES), King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, 31261, Dhahran, Saudi ArabiaIn this paper, a humidification and dehumidification (HDH) desalination system is developed using an evaporative pad and thermoelectric cooling (TEC) units to condense water vapor to increase water production with minimum energy consumption. In contrast to typical HDH systems, which are based on natural heat sources or external condensers, the intended approach forms a thermally coupled setup where air humidification is improved by the evaporative pad, whilst the TEC modules provide localized condensation through preserving a cold sink surface simultaneously. The investigation was concentrated on the major operating conditions, such as air velocity (0.5–5 m/s), input voltage of the TEC (5–16 V), and seasonal environmental conditions, to assess the performance of the system as per water productivity, coefficient of performance (COP), gain output ratio (GOR), recovery ratio (RR), and effectiveness. The optimum performance is at 9 V and air velocity of 0.5–1.0 m/s, where equilibrium between electrical consumption and cooling capacity is established. The system produced daily fresh water anywhere between 1400 mL/day when it was hot and dry and 1800 mL/day when it was cooler and more humid. The maximum indicated GOR was 1.374, and the maximum COP of approximately 0.78 under optimal conditions was observed. The daily performance was the best in the morning and evening, when lower temperatures and higher humidities enhanced efficiency of condensation. The research gives us clues to improve the performance of the HDH system under optimized operating conditions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25009311Humidification–Dehumidification (HDH)Thermoelectric Cooling (TEC)Evaporation padDesalination performanceSpecific energy consumptionGain‐Output Ratio (GOR)
spellingShingle Ali M. Ashour
Saif Ali Kadhim
Moafaq K.S. Al-Ghezi
Issa Omle
Ravishankar Sathyamurthy
Performance analysis of a water desalination system using humidification and dehumidification techniques with thermoelectric cooling unit
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Humidification–Dehumidification (HDH)
Thermoelectric Cooling (TEC)
Evaporation pad
Desalination performance
Specific energy consumption
Gain‐Output Ratio (GOR)
title Performance analysis of a water desalination system using humidification and dehumidification techniques with thermoelectric cooling unit
title_full Performance analysis of a water desalination system using humidification and dehumidification techniques with thermoelectric cooling unit
title_fullStr Performance analysis of a water desalination system using humidification and dehumidification techniques with thermoelectric cooling unit
title_full_unstemmed Performance analysis of a water desalination system using humidification and dehumidification techniques with thermoelectric cooling unit
title_short Performance analysis of a water desalination system using humidification and dehumidification techniques with thermoelectric cooling unit
title_sort performance analysis of a water desalination system using humidification and dehumidification techniques with thermoelectric cooling unit
topic Humidification–Dehumidification (HDH)
Thermoelectric Cooling (TEC)
Evaporation pad
Desalination performance
Specific energy consumption
Gain‐Output Ratio (GOR)
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25009311
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