An innovative approach to desalination and cooling using forward osmosis with thermal recovery and vapor absorption cycle

Hassan K. Abdulrahim, Mansour Ahmed

Water Research Center (WRC), Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), P.O. Box 24885, 13109 Safat, Kuwait,
email: habdulrahim@kisr.edu.kw (corresponding author)

(2025) 47–53
https://doi.org/10.5004.dsal.2025.700073

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Abstract

Kuwait is facing an increasing demand for freshwater due to the country’s limited natural water resources and hot, humid climate, which requires high levels of energy consumption. To address this challenge, a new system has been developed that integrates forward osmosis (FO) with thermal recovery and a vapor absorption cooling cycle. This system is unique because it utilizes low-grade heat sources, like solar energy or waste heat from power plants, to generate a cooling effect and drive the thermal recovery process of the FO desalination system. The FO process efficiently solves common desalination challenges like scaling, fouling, and precipitation, making it an ideal solution to manage extreme weather and water scarcity. Results of the study show that the proposed system is highly energy efficient, with a specific energy consumption of only 0.54 kWh/m³ for desalination, which is remarkable in the realm of desalination technologies. Additionally, the system can produce 1300 m³/d of desalinated water and a significant cooling effect of 500 refrigerant tons (RT) with a thermal energy input of 2550 kW. The system’s innovative thermal recovery feature efficiently recaptures waste heat to increase the feed water temperature to the FO by 14°C, which significantly improves the performance of the FO system. This paper demonstrates that the proposed system is technically feasible and environmentally beneficial. This innovation has the potential to pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient approach to managing water resources and energy consumption, offering a promising solution to the pressing global issues of water scarcity and climate change. This system represents a significant step forward in sustainable energy and water management, and it holds great promise for future applications in similar climates worldwide.

Keywords: Combined cooling and desalination; Forward osmosis with thermal recovery; Vapor absorption cycle; Low-grade heat utilization

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