Desalination using solar energy: Towards sustainability
This paper describes the theoretical rationale for a new low temperature phase-change desalination process, and six examples of applications to illustrate how this process can be engineered for sustainable desalination. In this process, brackish water is evaporated at near-ambient temperatures under...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Energy (Oxford) 2011, Vol.36 (1), p.78-85 |
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Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | This paper describes the theoretical rationale for a new low temperature phase-change desalination process, and six examples of applications to illustrate how this process can be engineered for sustainable desalination. In this process, brackish water is evaporated at near-ambient temperatures under near-vacuum pressures created by the barometric head without any mechanical energy input. Thermodynamic advantages and benefits of low temperature phase-change desalination are discussed and results from simulation studies and a prototype test system are presented. Three of the examples illustrate how the proposed process can be driven by solar energy: a) utilizing direct solar energy; b) inclusion of an external reflector; c) utilizing photovoltaic energy during non-sunlight hours. The other examples illustrate how the proposed process can be driven by waste heat: i) waste heat rejected by an absorption refrigeration unit driven by grid power; ii) waste heat rejected by an absorption refrigeration unit driven by solar collectors; and iii) waste heat rejected by an absorption refrigeration unit supported by a photovoltaic array. Merits of utilizing solar energy and process waste heat in reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are discussed in detail.
► A new desalination process using solar energy and process waste heat was proposed. ► Theoretical and experimental results using solar energy and PV energy are presented. ► Experimental results included use of four different configurations of solar energy. ► Waste heat released by an ARS system powered by solar and PV energy was studied. ► GHG emissions for this process were compared with other desalination processes. |
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ISSN: | 0360-5442 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.energy.2010.11.008 |