Abstract

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate an experimental investigation of a water desalination system using solar energy that applies the humidification and dehumidification principle. A prototype/test rig was designed, fabricated and assembled in order to study the effect of water flow rate and the humidifier inlet water temperature against desalinated water productivity. The system consists of a spray type with no packing bed humidifier, a copper coiled Dehumidifier, a flat plate solar water heater, an air blower, a water pump, a water flow meter, a water tank, three thermocouples and four gate water valves. The system is based on an open waterclosed air cycle. A new approach is used such that the humidifier, dehumidifier and the connecting duct between them are made of Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes; which makes the system lighter in weight, doesn’t need insulation unlike metal sheets and anti-rust. The effect of operating parameters on the system characteristics has been controlled, measured and investigated. It was found that the hot inlet water temperature to the humidifier has a significant impact on the water productivity; they are relatively proportional, thus, the more the hot inlet water temperature increases, the more the water productivity increases. It was also found that Saline water flow rate has an impact on the water productivity but inversely proportional.

Keywords: Solar energy; Humidification; Dehumidification; Water; Desalination