Performance Analysis of a Floating Seawater Desalination Structure Based on Heat Pipes

This study presents a comprehensive numerical simulation and thermal performance analysis of a novel modular floating solar still system, featuring integrated heat-pipe vacuum tube collectors, designed for seawater desalination. This innovative system—subject of International Patent Application WO 2023/062261 A1—not only aims to enhance efficiency and scalability beyond traditional solar stills, but also addresses the significant environmental challenge of concentrated brine discharge inherent in conventional desalination methods. The study evolved from an initial theoretical model to a rigorous dynamic thermal model, validated using real hourly meteorological data from Málaga, Andalusia, Spain. This modelling approach was developed to quantify heat transfer mechanisms and accurately predict system performance. The refined hourly simulation forecasts an annual freshwater production of approximately 174 L per unit. Notably, a preliminary economic assessment estimates the Cost of Produced Water per Litre (CPL) at 0.7509 EUR/litre, establishing a valuable baseline for future optimisation. These findings underscore the critical importance of dynamic hourly simulations for realistic performance prediction and validate the technical and preliminary economic feasibility of this novel approach. The system’s projected output, modular floating design, and significant environmental advantages position it as a promising and sustainable solution for freshwater production, particularly in coastal regions and sensitive marine ecosystems. This work provides a solid foundation for future experimental validation, cost optimisation, and scalable implementation of renewable energy-driven desalination.