The global lack of safe drinking water has required study and development in sea and brackish water desalination using renewable energy sources. Because of its energy economy and versatility in comparison to other water desalination technologies, reverse osmosis membrane desalination has gained popularity in recent years. It is critical to monitor and maintain system conditions at proper set points when operating the reverse osmosis desalination unit in order to generate the required amount of clean, portable water while avoiding system damage.

CHALLENGES

In the context of unpredictability in feed water salinity and input power, it is also desirable to discover operating strategies to lower the energy consumption of the reverse osmosis desalination plant. PV-powered reverse osmosis is one of the most promising kinds of renewable energy-powered desalination, particularly in isolated locations. In the beginning, SOLAR-RO is most cost-competitive for small-scale systems where other technologies are less cost-competitive. Salty water is forced to flow through a membrane in the RO filtration process, separating the saline solution from the solute. The main source of energy for the RO process is the energy required to pressurise the feed water. Although reverse osmosis is a scalable process, small-scale systems have lower energy efficiency.

SOLAR RO WATER PLANTS IN INDIA

Solar-powered RO (Reverse Osmosis) and UF (Ultra Filtration) plants are a benefit to rural India since they provide safe drinking water without relying on inconsistent or non-existent energy. In remote and rural India, a solar-powered water purifier solution can help supply the most up-to-date water purification technologies. Solar RO Plants of this sort may purify water from any source, including rivers, ponds, and bore wells.

The SOLAR RO system is made up of two parts:

1. 1. a power generation unit and
2. 2. a desalination unit.

Because the RO unit requires a stable power supply, the system's electricity will be supplied by the solar PV array, and batteries will be linked to provide that power. The PV-generated energy is stored in a battery bank. The loads are powered by the stored energy. On the brine side, the RO desalination process comprises of a high-pressure pump, membrane unit, and pressure control valve.

The solution is forced against the membrane by a pump, and water molecules pass through the membrane, reducing the concentration of the solute known as permeate, while the remaining water, which contains high salt concentrations, is rejected as a waste known as brine. The brine side valve is used to manage the amount of brine discharged as well as the system pressure.

PLACES WHERE SOLAR RO CAN BE PLANTED:

1. 1. Schools/Universities,
2. 2. Temples/Masjid/Church,
3. 3. Villages,
4. 4. Hotels,
5. 5. Companies/Industries
6. 6. Hostels,
7. 7. Corporate Offices/ Government Offices,
8. 8. Military Camps,
9. 9. Public Places/ Tourist Places

ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR RO WATER PLANTS

Solar RO water treatment is a feasible water treatment system that improves the microbiological quality of drinking and cooking water.The procedure is simple to implement in tiny towns throughout the world that lack a centralised water treatment plant or other treatment or disinfection options like filtration or chlorination.Disinfection of water using solar RO plant, this decentralised water treatment procedure can be carried out at the household level under the responsibility of the individual user.Because it relies on locally available resources, plastic bottles, and sunlight, the method is cost-effective and low-investment.