Performance evaluation of solar-assisted humidification dehumidification system for seawater desalination: An experimental approach

Humidification/dehumidification desalination presents a promising method for small-scale water production due to its ability to utilize solar energy and minimal technological requirements. This research examines the performance of solar-assisted humidification/dehumidification (SA-HDH) desalination system, which is designed to treat seawater from Dumas Beach in Surat city of India. The system integrates a solar air heater, a packed humidifier, and a dehumidifier with an indirect evaporative cooler. Through comprehensive energy, exergy, sustainability, and economic assessments, the study aims to assess system efficiency and viability. Results demonstrate that increasing airflow rates significantly enhances heat transfer efficiency within the humidifier and dehumidifier, boosting system performance and increasing yield by 5.4–7.7 %. The average energy efficiency of 35.5 % is observed at an airflow rate of 125 kg/h. The system effectively removed 99.7 % of total dissolved solids, total hardness, and chloride from the seawater, producing high-quality freshwater. The cost of water production ranging from 0.025 to 0.028 $/L, with a sustainability index ranging from 1.052 to 1.064. These findings underscore the SA-HDH system’s potential as an efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective solution for mitigating water scarcity.