Solar Thermal Engineering
Mahdi Rezaei Rad; Rouzbeh Shafaghat; Amirhossein Aghajani Afghan; Behrad Alizadeh Kharkeshi
Abstract
This experimental study introduces a solar humidifier-dehumidifier desalination model as a type of open-air-open water (OAOW) system; also, a new condenser with thermoelectric modules is applied in the dehumidifier unit. The experimental tests were done by considering climate conditions in the north ...
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This experimental study introduces a solar humidifier-dehumidifier desalination model as a type of open-air-open water (OAOW) system; also, a new condenser with thermoelectric modules is applied in the dehumidifier unit. The experimental tests were done by considering climate conditions in the north of Iran (Mazandaran province, Babol), and the effect of the inlet air's temperature and flow rate on the system's functional characteristics and condenser was investigated to improve the performance. Sensors measured the data related to the fluid temperature and humidity of the cycle at different points; other data was also gathered by psychrometric chart and EES software. The results section investigates water generation rate, GOR, coefficient of performance (COP), and condenser efficiency. The results showed that the highest water production is 420 g/hr, and the highest GOR is 0.19. Also, the water production rate and COP increase as the inlet air temperature rises. At temperatures lower than 75o Celsius, due to the air saturation, the maximum point of the water production and COP occurs at a flow rate of 0.022 kg/s. at high temperatures, increasing the flow rate raises water production, and on the other hand, the COP in the condenser is 0.8 at the highest point. According to the economic analysis done for the proposed model, the freshwater cost is 0.098-0.049 $/year for one liter.