Experimental investigation to the desalination performance of a system due to integration of a solar collection chamber and a cooling chimney

Abstract

The paper presents a concept and experimental study to a solar thermal desalination system, which has three components integrated, including a glass-covered solar thermal collection chamber, a basin with salty water for evaporation, and a cooling chimney for water vapor condensation. Both clean water and salts can be collected as products for maximized value and leaving no waste discharge and minimal impact to the environment. An experimental system was constructed for laboratory test before outdoor on-sun operation. Constant temperature of the water in water basin was maintained by electrical heaters in the experimental test. Measurements were conducted for airflow rate drawn into the solar collection chamber, and the humidity and temperature of the humid air at locations of in and outlet of the cooling chimney. Understanding to the relationship of water temperatures and airflow rate as well as water production rate has been obtained, which will lead to optimization design of the system for better energy efficiency.