Solar-Driven Nano-Enhanced Membrane Distillation with PCM-Based Energy Storage: Experimental Investigation, Modeling, and System Integration

The growing demand for sustainable desalination has spurred interest in solar-driven membrane distillation (MD) as an energy-efficient technology for freshwater production. This study introduces a high-performance vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) system powered by solar energy, incorporating advanced membrane design, system modeling, and energy recovery. Hollow fiber PVDF membranes were enhanced with superhydrophobic Silicalite-1 zeolite nanoparticles, significantly improving their morphology and separation performance. Heat and mass transfer phenomena in the VMD process were modeled using Python and validated experimentally. A solar power unit was designed and optimized via mathematical modeling and simulations to maximize thermal energy harvesting. A custom-built Python interface integrated the TRNSYS and HYSYS platforms for seamless system operation. To improve thermal management and energy efficiency, an energy recovery system (ERS) with phase change material (PCM)-based thermal storage was implemented. The use of nanoenhanced PCMs (TiO2 nanoparticles) further increased energy utilization. Overall, 96% of the collected solar energy was effectively used in the MD system, minimizing waste. The system can produce ∼2 × 106 m3 of freshwater annually using ∼6 × 104 MWh of renewable energy. These results demonstrate the potential of combining nanomaterials, energy storage, and solar integration for scalable, eco-friendly desalination.