Optimized operation of an integrated solar desalination and air-conditioning system: Theoretical study

Abstract

Integrating the solar distiller with the air-conditioning system can increase the condensate output from the solar stiller while meeting the cooling load needs. The operation of the combined solar distillation and air conditioning system has been modeled and simulated to predict distillate output from the cooling coil for the combined system for a residential space application in the suburbs of Beirut. An optimization problem is formulated to optimize the integrated system operation for minimum energy consumption while meeting the hourly cooling load and the daily fresh water need of 100 liters. The design variable in the optimization study is the fresh air flow rate that passes through the distiller and mixes with return air for the constant volume space supply fan. The optimization problem is solved for a 10-hour of operation of the combined system for the summer months: June, August and October. It is found that the cost of fresh water production of the combined system is 0.108 kWh/ liter for the month of August and 0.12 kWh/liter of fresh water in October.