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Feasibility investigation of coupling a desalination prototype functioning by Aero-Evapo-Condensation with solar units for the South Mediterranean Countries K. Bourounia , C. Boudena, M.T. Chaibib, a Laboratoire d�Energie Solaire Ecole Nationale d�Ing�nieurs de Tunis, BP37, Le Belv�d�re 1002 Tunis, Tunisie b Institut National de Recherche en G�nie Rural, Eaux et Forets PO Box 10, Ariana 2080, Tunisia The rural regions of south Mediterranean countries suffer from water supply problems. The great part of these regions has important resources of brackish water. Thus, brackish water desalination presents a potential solution to this problem. For this reason, a number of little desalination prototypes are developed world-wide. Bourouni et al [1999] have developed a water desalination unit functioning by Aero-Evapo-Condensation (PAEC) for the rural regions of south Mediterranean countries. One of the advantage of this prototype is that it allows the use of low temperature energy such as geothermal and solar energies abundant in these countries. A first experimentation was carried on a PAEC prototype coupled to a geothermal spring in the south of Tunisia. The obtained unit technical and economical performances have shown that this kind of coupling is promising. On the other hand, the brackish water springs in these countries are often non geothermal. In this case, the use of solar energy can be considered. Thus, we develop in this paper a feasibility investigation on the coupling of the PAEC prototype with solar units. In fact, we analyze in the first part of this paper the possibilities of this coupling in a manner that the functioning mode of the solar units will be compatible with that of the PAEC prototype. To attempt this objective, two kinds of solar installations scenarios are modeled to obtain their energetic contribution. Hence, the elaborated models are coupled to that developed by Bourouni et al [1999] for the PAEC prototype to determine the technical and economical performances of the whole installation. In the last part of this paper, a solar unit dimensioning is performed in order to minimize the total coast of the cubic meter of distilled water. Key words : Desalination, Geothermal energy, Solar Energy, PAEC, Coupling, Modeling, Performances. REFERENCES BOUROUNI K., CHAIBI M.T., TADRIST L., Heat transfer and evaporation in geothermal desalination units, Applied Energy, 1999, Vol 64, pp 129-147.