Thermo-economic performance of inclined solar water distillation systems

Abstract

This study investigates the thermo-economic performance of different configurations at inclined solar water desalination for parameters such as daily production, efficiency, system cost, and distilled water production cost. The four different configurations considered for this study are; 1. Inclined solar water distillation with bare absorber plate (IISWD) with daily production of 5.46 kg/m2per day and daily efficiency of 48.3%. 2. Inclined solar water distillation with wick on absorber plate (IISWD W) with daily production of6.41kg/m2per day and daily efficiency 50.3%. 3. Inclined solar water distillation with wire mesh on absorber plate (IISWDWM) with daily production of 3.03 kg/m'per day and daily efficiency 32.6%. 4. Inclined solar water distillation with bare absorber plate ISWD Control System, and with daily production of 3.25 kg/m2per day and daily efficiency of 40.1%. The systems potable water cost price ranges from 0.03 $/L for IISWDW to 0.06S/L for IISWDWM system. All the systems are economically and technically feasible as a solar distillation system for potable water in Northern Cyprus. The price of potable water from water vendors/hawkers ranges from 0.11-0.16 $/L. It is more economically viable to have the rooftop inclined solar water desalination system than procuring potable water from vendors.