Abstract
This experimental study investigates the performance of a novel humidifier-dehumidifier (HDH) desalination system integrated with a vapor absorption refrigerator (VAR) and photovoltaic (PV) panels for humid regions. The effects of air mass flow rate (m˙a) and inlet air temperature on key performance indicators were evaluated. Increasing m˙afrom 0.0039 kg/s to 0.0071 kg/s led to a 73% increase in freshwater output, a 35% increase in Coefficient of Performance (COP), a 100% increase in Gain of Output Ratio (GOR), and a 75% increase in Recovery Ratio (RR), but a 20% decrease in dehumidifier efficiency. The maximum freshwater production rate of 870 g/h and a GOR of 1.4 were obtained at m˙a= 0.0071 kg/s and inlet air temperature of 50°C, representing a 117% increase compared to the lowest temperature and flow rate tested. The cost of freshwater for solar and electric operation modes was 0.075 and 0.094 USD/kg, respectively. The system's novelty lies in the integration of HDH desalination with a VAR and PV system, enabling continuous freshwater production even under cloudy or nighttime conditions. The findings demonstrate the potential of the proposed system for sustainable freshwater production in humid areas.