Integration of an Energy-Water Operating Window for Electrical Power Sharing in a standalone Microgrid-BWRO Desalination Unit

Renewable energy sources are abundant and environmentally friendly and therefore present a promising alternative to power desalination units. This is why the Water-Energy nexus is a crucial step towards sustainable development. Thus, the integration of renewable energy sources (RES) in water desalination processes is very important. The main objective of this paper is to analyse a Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis (BWRO) desalination system powered by a microgrid system without the use of electro-chemical storage devices. Considering the intermittent nature of the renewable energy source and their sensitivity to the Water-Energy nexus, this work proposes to identify the various constraints and operating limits through an experimental BWRO desalination unit with all the elements of water-energy measurement, control and management. The control and management are based on a new technique of "Electrical Power Sharing" through the pressurization systems while using a specific Power Field Oriented Control (PFOC) while respecting the Safe Operating Window (SOW) of the desalination unit.