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

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors studied numerically the heat transfer performance of a modular, floating solar still system designed for seawater desalination. The energy balance approach was used for analysis combined with actual meteorological data from Málaga, Andalusia, Spain. Two cases were studied to improve the annual freshwater production. The paper is interesting and can be published after revision with following comments.

1. Analysis was performed using the energy balance approach. Such a method has many disadvantages. Nowadays one of the more effective methods is an application of computational fluid dynamics. Therefore, the authors should explain the used approach for analysis.
2. More detailed analysis of the used system design should be performed with detailed figures.
3. All used assumptions should be formulated before the used approach.
4. The authors performed the theoretical analysis of the practical system. The comparison with experimental data is necessary.
5. There are some typos within the text.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

1. There are some typos within the text.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Review of “Performance analysis of a floating seawater desalination structure based on heat pipes”

The authors performed a numerical study to support the analysis of their patented solar desalination technology. This is a well-written manuscript and would be of interest to the readers of this journal. I recommend publication after the following concerns have been addressed. 

The authors do a good job of motivating the study. However, they are a bit too dismissive of existing technologies. There is a concerted effort to improve the performance of technologies on a system scale. For example, 

Electrodialysis: Bi, Xiangyu, et al. "Nonlinear programming optimization of a single-stack electrodialysis desalination system for cost efficiency." Desalination 601 (2025): 118512.

Bipolar electrodialysis: Dhanasekaran, Johnson, et al. "Optimal design of power constrained bipolar membrane electrodialysis over a wide brine range." Chemical Engineering Journal (2025): 163497.  

Since this study is primarily a numerical analysis, it would greatly benefit from validation of the underlying model against some experimental data. In its present form, only the seawater temperature model has been validated, not the heat transfer component. 

What is the purity of distilled water? I tried to do a word search, and no relevant information showed up. It should be presented prominently. 

The authors should consider reporting the levelized cost of water production. This would help better assess it against existing technologies.

How does salinity variation affect performance? Based on line 619, it appears the authors have not varied this parameter.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Attached

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

A minor improvement is recommended.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper was improved and can be accepted for publication.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors have revised the manuscript in good faith. The manuscript in its current form may proceed for publication.