Theoretical analysis of a solar desalination system utilizing an innovative new concept, which uses low-grade solar heat, is presented. The system utilizes natural means of gravity and atmospheric pressure to create a vacuum, under which liquid can be evaporated at much lower temperatures and with less energy than conventional techniques. The uniqueness of the system is in the way natural forces are used to create vacuum conditions and its incorporation in a single system design where evaporation and condensation take place at appropriate locations without any energy input other than low grade heat. The system consists of solar heating system, an evaporator, a condenser, and injection, withdrawal, and discharge pipes. The effect of various operating conditions, namely, withdrawal rate, depth of water body, temperature of the heat source, and condenser temperature were studied. Numerical simulations show that the proposed system may have distillation efficiencies as high as 90% or more. Vacuum equivalent to 3.7 kPa (abs) or less can be created depending on the ambient temperature at which condensation will take place.
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Technical Papers
Theoretical Analysis of a Water Desalination System Using Low Grade Solar Heat
S. Al-Kharabsheh,
S. Al-Kharabsheh
Solar Energy and Energy Conversion Laboratory, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, University of Florida, 220 MEB, PO Box 116300, Gainesville, FL 32611-6300
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D. Yogi Goswami
e-mail: address: goswami@ufl.edu
D. Yogi Goswami
Solar Energy and Energy Conversion Laboratory, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, University of Florida, 220 MEB, PO Box 116300, Gainesville, FL 32611-6300
Search for other works by this author on:
S. Al-Kharabsheh
Solar Energy and Energy Conversion Laboratory, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, University of Florida, 220 MEB, PO Box 116300, Gainesville, FL 32611-6300
D. Yogi Goswami
Solar Energy and Energy Conversion Laboratory, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, University of Florida, 220 MEB, PO Box 116300, Gainesville, FL 32611-6300
e-mail: address: goswami@ufl.edu
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS for publication in the ASME JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING. Manuscript received by the ASME Solar Energy Division, May 2003, final revision, December 2003. Associate Editor: M. Krarti.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2004, 126(2): 774-780 (7 pages)
Published Online: May 4, 2004
Article history
Received:
May 1, 2003
Revised:
December 1, 2003
Online:
May 4, 2004
Citation
Al-Kharabsheh , S., and Goswami, D. Y. (May 4, 2004). "Theoretical Analysis of a Water Desalination System Using Low Grade Solar Heat ." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. May 2004; 126(2): 774–780. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1669450
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