Soutenance de Thèse de Doctorat en “Chemical Engineering” par Mr. Ali Seid ALI

The Euromed University of Fez (UEMF) is pleased to inform the public of

the doctoral thesis defense in ” Chemical Engineering ”

The thesis defense will take place on June 21, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at l’UEMF

Location: The Great Hall of the Incubator (LOC001994)

The thesis will be presented by Mr. Ali Seid ALI

under the theme :

“ ANALYSIS OF PHOTOVOLTAIC THERMAL (PVT) DRIVEN FORWARD OSMOSIS AND/OR MEMBRANE DISTILLATION WATER DESALINATION ”

Summary

Solar desalination is a promising solution for addressing water scarcity and reducing the carbon emissions associated with conventional desalination powered by non-renewable energy. This work aims to integrate solar photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems with two emerging desalination techniques—forward osmosis (FO) and membrane distillation (MD)—both of which effectively utilize low-grade thermal energy. This research contributes to addressing both energy and water scarcity, along with their associated environmental challenges.¬¬¬

This thesis pursues four objectives: examining extruded-absorber PVT performance under varying weather, investigating PVT-MD dynamic performance, proposing a PVT-driven FO-MD system for brackish water, and analyzing its pilot-scale feasibility for industrial deployment.

Dynamic models were developed and analyzed. Extruded absorber PVT provided better thermal and comparable electrical performance than sheet-and-tube PVT. FO/MD water fluxes generally increased with solar and ambient temperature but decreased with fluid flow/velocity. Feed concentration reduced flux, while draw solution concentration increased FO flux. FO flux was concentration-sensitive, MD flux weather-sensitive. The pilot system yields 172.1 kWh thermal, 93.9 kWh electrical, and 269 L water daily.

The thesis perspectives on the design and testing of a pilot plant. The research plan outlines a potential path towards demonstration-sale application, including a techno-economic study.

This thesis will be presented to the jury members:

Full name	Grade	Institution	Quality
Prof. Abdelkrim El Kadib	Full Professor	Euromed University of Fes	Jury Chair
Prof. Souad Abderafi	Full Professor	Ecole Mohammadia d’Ingénieurs, UMV-Rabat	Reviewer
Prof. Chouaïb Benqlilou	Full Professor	Ecole Nationale des Mines de Rabat	Reviewer
Prof. Hamid Mounir	Full Professor	Ecole Mohammadia d’Ingénieurs, UMV-Rabat	Reviewer
Prof. Anouar Rich	Full Professor	Faculté des Sciences, UCD	Examiner
Prof. Nadia Katir	Full Professor	EPS, Euromed University of Fes	Examiner
Prof. Tijani Bounahmidi	Full Professor	Euromed University of Fes	Thesis Director