Authors: Mohamed Eltom Musa, Emad Saad Saied, Mohamed Yagoub Adam
Abstract: Water scarcity in arid coastal regions has shifted from a resource limitation to a structural constraint on development. Port Sudan represents a critical case where high-salinity seawater coexists with abundant solar energy potential. This study develops an integrated MATLAB/Simulink model of a photovoltaic-powered seawater reverse osmosis (PV-SWRO) desalination system to evaluate performance under real Red Sea conditions. The model combines osmotic pressure calculations, hydraulic energy requirements, and photovoltaic power generation into a unified framework. Under a salinity of approximately 40 ppt, osmotic pressure reaches ~34 bar, requiring an operating pressure near 60 bar. For a plant capacity of 10,000 m³/day, the system requires 35,000 kWh/day, supplied by a PV array of approximately 7.8 MW. Results show that energy demand increases nonlinearly with salinity, while PV integration significantly reduces operational costs. The levelized cost of water (LCOW) is estimated at 0.66 USD/m³, confirming economic feasibility. The study demonstrates that PV-powered SWRO desalination is a technically viable and sustainable solution for water-scarce coastal regions.
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