Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental Performance of Desalination System Using Solar Concentrator, Nano-fluid, and Preheater Tube Accompanying Phase Change Material

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions of Mechanical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Effects of nano-fluid and phase change material (PCM) were investigated experimentally on a desalination system using solar parabolic concentrator. Active distillation system has been performed with and without nano-fluid, PCM, and preheater tube. In absorbent section, PCM was used to study its effect during nighttime. Tests were carried out in different depth of distillation basin. Desalination system was operated for 12 days in sunny with no wind conditions in the city of Andimeshk, Iran, at geographical location of 32.45 N and 48.35 E. Results indicated using nano-fluid and preheater tube will increase the freshwater production and efficiency up to 51% for operating time of 16′30″. Produced freshwater was 6.42 L for 13′15″ and 0.68 L for 3′15″ in daytime and nighttime, respectively. Using nano-fluid indicated 2.1% better performance in the heat absorption process. Although using PCM had negative effect on the heat transfer between the working fluid and the distillation basin, it increased the nighttime production for the low depth basin. In addition, PCM indicated an increase of 9.6% of freshwater production. Cost for producing freshwater was found to be 14.8 US $/m3. According to the findings, uses of nano-fluid as well as preheater tube are promising and there are more advantages in this kind of system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abed FM, Kassim MS, Rahi MR (2017) Performance improvement of a passive solar still in a water desalination. Int J Environ Sci Technol 14:1277–1284

    Google Scholar 

  • Abernethy RB, Benedict RP, Dowdell RB (1985) ASME measurement uncertainty. J Fluids Eng 107:161–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Abu El-Maaty AE, Awad MM, Sultan GI, Hamed AM (2019) Solar powered fog desalination system. Desalination 472:114130

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-harahsheh M, Abu-Arabi M, Mousa H, Alzghoul Z (2018) Solar desalination using solar still enhanced by external solar collector and PCM. Appl Therm Eng 128:1030–1040

    Google Scholar 

  • Arunkumar T, Denkenberger D, Velraj R, Sathyamurthy R, Tanaka H, Vinothkumar K (2015) Experimental study on a parabolic concentrator assisted solar desalting system. Energy Convers Manag 105:665–674

    Google Scholar 

  • Aybar HŞ (2006) Mathematical modeling of an inclined solar water distillation system. Desalination 190:63–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Bataineh KM (2016) Multi-effect desalination plant combined with thermal compressor driven by steam generated by solar energy. Desalination 385:39–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Dev R, Tiwari GN (2009) Characteristic equation of a passive solar still. Desalination 245:246–265

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Said EMS, Kabeel AE, Abdulaziz M (2016) Theoretical study on hybrid desalination system coupled with nano-fluid solar heater for arid states. Desalination 386:84–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Elshamy SM, El-Said EMS (2018) Comparative study based on thermal, exergetic and economic analyses of a tubular solar still with semi-circular corrugated absorber. J Clean Prod 195:328–339

    Google Scholar 

  • Estrada A, Romero D (2016) Towards a cost engineering method for product-service systems based on a system cost uncertainty analysis. Procedia CIRP 47:84–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Fathy M, Hassan H, Salem Ahmed M (2018) Experimental study on the effect of coupling parabolic trough collector with double slope solar still on its performance. Sol Energy 163:54–61

    Google Scholar 

  • He WF, Chen JJ, Zhen MR, Han D (2019a) Thermodynamic, economic analysis and optimization of a heat pump driven desalination system with open-air humidification dehumidification configurations. Energy 174:768–778

    Google Scholar 

  • He WF, Chen JJ, Han D, Luo LT, Wang XC, Zhang QY et al (2019b) “Energetic, entropic and economic analysis of an open-air, open-water humidification dehumidification desalination system with a packing bed dehumidifier. Energy Convers Manag 199:112016

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosseini A, Banakar A, Gorjian S (2018) Development and performance evaluation of an active solar distillation system integrated with a vacuum-type heat exchanger. Desalination 435:45–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnston JH, Grindrod JE, Dodds M, Schimitschek K (2008) Composite nano-structured calcium silicate phase change materials for thermal buffering in food packaging. Curr Appl Phys 8:508–511

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabeel AE, El-Said EMS (2014) Applicability of flashing desalination technique for small scale needs using a novel integrated system coupled with nanofluid-based solar collector. Desalination 333:10–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabeel AE, El-Said EMS (2018) Experimental study on a modified solar power driven hybrid desalination system. Desalination 443:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabeel AE, Elmaaty TA, El-Said EMS (2013) Economic analysis of a small-scale hybrid air HDH–SSF (humidification and dehumidification–water flashing evaporation) desalination plant. Energy 53:306–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabeel AE, El-Said EMS, Abdulaziz M (2017) Thermal solar water heater with H2O–Al2O3 nano-fluid in forced convection: experimental investigation. Int J Ambient Energy 38:85–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabeel AE, Abdelaziz GB, El-Said EMS (2019) Experimental investigation of a solar still with composite material heat storage: energy, exergy and economic analysis. J Clean Prod 231:21–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalogirou SA (2002) Parabolic trough collectors for industrial process heat in Cyprus. Energy 27:813–830

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalogirou SA (2014) Solar energy engineering, 2nd edn. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Kalogirou SA, Lloyd S (1992) Use of solar parabolic trough collectors for hot water production in Cyprus. A feasibility study. Renew Energy 2:117–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasaeian A, Babaei S, Jahanpanah M, Sarrafha H, Sulaiman Alsagri A, Ghaffarian S et al (2019) Solar humidification–dehumidification desalination systems: a critical review. Energy Convers Manag 201:112129

    Google Scholar 

  • Lippke F (1995) Direct steam generation in parabolic trough solar power plants—numerical investigation of the transients and the control of a once-through system. J Sol Energy Eng 118:9–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahfuz MH, Kamyar A, Afshar O, Sarraf M, Anisur MR, Kibria MA et al (2014) Exergetic analysis of a solar thermal power system with PCM storage. Energy Convers Manag 78:486–492

    Google Scholar 

  • May EK, Murphy LM (1983) Performance benefits of the direct generation of steam in line-focus solar collectors. J Sol Energy Eng 105:126–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohamed AF, Hegazi AA, Sultan GI, El-Said EMS (2019) Enhancement of a solar still performance by inclusion the basalt stones as a porous sensible absorber: experimental study and thermo-economic analysis. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 200:109958

    Google Scholar 

  • Mousa H, Gujarathi AM (2016) Modeling and analysis the productivity of solar desalination units with phase change materials. Renew Energy 95:225–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Mousa H, Naser J, Gujarathi AM, Al-Sawafi S (2019) Experimental study and analysis of solar still desalination using phase change materials. Journal of Energy Storage 26:100959

    Google Scholar 

  • Omara ZM, Mohamed AE (2013) Hybrid of solar dish concentrator, new boiler and simple solar collector for brackish water desalination. Desalination 326:62–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Panchal H, Patel N, Momin A, Mevada PR (2014) Researchers and reviews on active solar distillation system. IJSRD Int J Sci Res Dev 2:146–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Romero AM, Zarza E (2007) Handbook of energy efficiency and renewable energy. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Sampathkumar K, Arjunan TV, Pitchandi P, Senthilkumar P (2010) Active solar distillation—a detailed review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 14:1503–1526

    Google Scholar 

  • Shahsavari A, Yazdi FT, Yazdi HT (2019) Potential of solar energy in Iran for carbon dioxide mitigation. Int J Environ Sci Technol 16:507–524

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharon H, Reddy KS, Krithika D, Philip L (2020) Viability assessment of solar distillation for desalination in coastal locations of Indian sub-continent—thermodynamic, condensate quality and enviro-economic aspects. Sol Energy 197:84–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi D, Guo Z, Bedford N (2015) 3—Carbon nanotubes. In: Shi D, Guo Z, Bedford N (eds) Nanomaterials and devices. William Andrew Publishing, Oxford, pp 49–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas A (1996) Solar steam generating systems using parabolic trough concentrators. Energy Convers Manag 37:215–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari GN, Garg HP (1984) Studies on various designs of solar distillation systems. Sol Wind Technol 1:161–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari GN, Dimri V, Chel A (2009) Parametric study of an active and passive solar distillation system: energy and exergy analysis. Desalination 242:1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallach D, Makowski D, Jones JW, Brun F (2019) Chapter 6—Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis. In: Wallach D, Makowski D, Jones JW, Brun F (eds) Working with dynamic crop models, 3rd edn. Academic Press, London, pp 209–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Zhu Z, Zheng H (2018) Investigation of a floating solar desalination film. Desalination 447:43–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Wypych A (2017) 3.8—Chlorinated paraffins. In: Wypych A (ed) Databook of plasticizers, 2nd edn. ChemTec Publishing, Oxford, pp 148–181

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jundi-Shapur University of Technology, Dezful, Iran

    M. R. Assari, M. Shafiee & Y. Cheshmeh Khavar

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    H. Basirat Tabrizi

Authors
  1. M. R. Assari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. Basirat Tabrizi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Shafiee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Y. Cheshmeh Khavar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. R. Assari.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Assari, M.R., Basirat Tabrizi, H., Shafiee, M. et al. Experimental Performance of Desalination System Using Solar Concentrator, Nano-fluid, and Preheater Tube Accompanying Phase Change Material. Iran J Sci Technol Trans Mech Eng 45, 1033–1044 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40997-020-00383-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40997-020-00383-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation