Using Solar Energy for Autonomous Water Supply to Communities

Abstract

Global water consumption grow steadily. In regions with a shortage of fresh water, its production is accompanied by a significant expenditure of energy, as a rule, it is a burning of hydrocarbon fuels. This factor has a negative impact on the environment. The aim of this work is to develop an energy-efficient "green" technology for the desalination of seawater and the production of fresh water from contaminated sources, through its forced evaporation with subsequent condensation of moisture. The process of obtaining fresh water is due to pre-saturated air in a closed thermodynamic cycle. The paper presents the thermal balance of modular installations. To increase the insolation power per unit area, it is possible to use various centers of solar energy. Experimental studies and a comparison of the performance of two variants of desalination plants in water with each other and with theoretically possible productivity were carried out. The productivity of the technologies is sufficient for the autonomous supply of drinking water to individual settlements and for the cultivation of plant foods by the hydroponic method.