Advancements in Integrated Thermoelectric Power Generation and Water Desalination Technologies: A Comprehensive Review
This paper reviews recent advancements in integrated thermoelectric power generation and water desalination technologies, driven by the increasing global demand for electricity and freshwater. The growing population and reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation pose challenges related to e...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/6/1454 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850089318813532160 |
|---|---|
| author | Oranit Traisak Pranjal Kumar Sara Vahaji Yihe Zhang Abhijit Date |
| author_facet | Oranit Traisak Pranjal Kumar Sara Vahaji Yihe Zhang Abhijit Date |
| author_sort | Oranit Traisak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper reviews recent advancements in integrated thermoelectric power generation and water desalination technologies, driven by the increasing global demand for electricity and freshwater. The growing population and reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation pose challenges related to environmental pollution and resource depletion, necessitating the exploration of alternative energy sources and desalination techniques. While thermoelectric generators are capable of converting low-temperature thermal energy into electricity and desalination processes that can utilize low-temperature thermal energy, their effective integration remains largely unexplored. Currently available hybrid power and water systems, such as those combining conventional heat engine cycles (e.g., the Rankine and Kalina cycles) with reverse osmosis, multi-effect distillation, and humidification–dehumidification, are limited in effectively utilizing low-grade thermal energy for simultaneous power generation and desalination, while solid-state heat-to-work conversion technology, such as thermoelectric generators, have low heat-to-work conversion efficiency. This paper identifies a key research gap in the limited effective integration of thermoelectric generators and desalination, despite their complementary characteristics. The study highlights the potential of hybrid systems, which leverage low-grade thermal energy for simultaneous power generation and desalination. The review also explores emerging material innovations in high figure of merit thermoelectric materials and advanced MD membranes, which could significantly enhance system performance. Furthermore, hybrid power–desalination systems incorporating thermoelectric generators with concentrated photovoltaic cells, solar thermal collectors, geothermal energy, and organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) are examined to highlight their potential for sustainable energy and water production. The findings underscore the importance of optimizing material properties, system configurations, and operating conditions to maximize efficiency and output while reducing economic and environmental costs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eb802cd159ca44c9935e99c35c857ce2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-eb802cd159ca44c9935e99c35c857ce22025-08-20T02:42:48ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-03-01186145410.3390/en18061454Advancements in Integrated Thermoelectric Power Generation and Water Desalination Technologies: A Comprehensive ReviewOranit Traisak0Pranjal Kumar1Sara Vahaji2Yihe Zhang3Abhijit Date4School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaThis paper reviews recent advancements in integrated thermoelectric power generation and water desalination technologies, driven by the increasing global demand for electricity and freshwater. The growing population and reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation pose challenges related to environmental pollution and resource depletion, necessitating the exploration of alternative energy sources and desalination techniques. While thermoelectric generators are capable of converting low-temperature thermal energy into electricity and desalination processes that can utilize low-temperature thermal energy, their effective integration remains largely unexplored. Currently available hybrid power and water systems, such as those combining conventional heat engine cycles (e.g., the Rankine and Kalina cycles) with reverse osmosis, multi-effect distillation, and humidification–dehumidification, are limited in effectively utilizing low-grade thermal energy for simultaneous power generation and desalination, while solid-state heat-to-work conversion technology, such as thermoelectric generators, have low heat-to-work conversion efficiency. This paper identifies a key research gap in the limited effective integration of thermoelectric generators and desalination, despite their complementary characteristics. The study highlights the potential of hybrid systems, which leverage low-grade thermal energy for simultaneous power generation and desalination. The review also explores emerging material innovations in high figure of merit thermoelectric materials and advanced MD membranes, which could significantly enhance system performance. Furthermore, hybrid power–desalination systems incorporating thermoelectric generators with concentrated photovoltaic cells, solar thermal collectors, geothermal energy, and organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) are examined to highlight their potential for sustainable energy and water production. The findings underscore the importance of optimizing material properties, system configurations, and operating conditions to maximize efficiency and output while reducing economic and environmental costs.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/6/1454thermoelectric generatormembrane distillationdesalinationpower generationrenewable energy |
| spellingShingle | Oranit Traisak Pranjal Kumar Sara Vahaji Yihe Zhang Abhijit Date Advancements in Integrated Thermoelectric Power Generation and Water Desalination Technologies: A Comprehensive Review Energies thermoelectric generator membrane distillation desalination power generation renewable energy |
| title | Advancements in Integrated Thermoelectric Power Generation and Water Desalination Technologies: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_full | Advancements in Integrated Thermoelectric Power Generation and Water Desalination Technologies: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_fullStr | Advancements in Integrated Thermoelectric Power Generation and Water Desalination Technologies: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancements in Integrated Thermoelectric Power Generation and Water Desalination Technologies: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_short | Advancements in Integrated Thermoelectric Power Generation and Water Desalination Technologies: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_sort | advancements in integrated thermoelectric power generation and water desalination technologies a comprehensive review |
| topic | thermoelectric generator membrane distillation desalination power generation renewable energy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/6/1454 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT oranittraisak advancementsinintegratedthermoelectricpowergenerationandwaterdesalinationtechnologiesacomprehensivereview AT pranjalkumar advancementsinintegratedthermoelectricpowergenerationandwaterdesalinationtechnologiesacomprehensivereview AT saravahaji advancementsinintegratedthermoelectricpowergenerationandwaterdesalinationtechnologiesacomprehensivereview AT yihezhang advancementsinintegratedthermoelectricpowergenerationandwaterdesalinationtechnologiesacomprehensivereview AT abhijitdate advancementsinintegratedthermoelectricpowergenerationandwaterdesalinationtechnologiesacomprehensivereview |