Thermodynamics and parametric analysis in adsorption desalination application

Drinking water scarcity is a significant global concern, driven by the rapidly growing population and climate change. According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2024, approximately 2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. This alarming situation has led to increasing interest in desalinating seawater and brackish water as a potential solution to this pressing challenge. Among various desalination technologies, adsorption water desalination is particularly feasible in locations with access to low-temperature heat as a primary energy source, which can be utilized as the energy driver for the process. Such a heat grade is virtually challenging to utilize from the thermodynamics and energy management perspective for other purposes, positioning such technology as the most practical. It is specifically feasible to use low-temperature renewable energy and waste heat to boost the overall energy conversion efficiency. This chapter overviews adsorption desalination technology, including the fundamental knowledge and frameworks for analyzing and modeling it. It also presents case studies that highlight this technology's practicality, discusses its challenges, and offers perspectives on its future development.