Theoretical and experimental investigation of humidification-dehumidification desalination unit

A theoretical and experimental investigation of humidification-dehumidification desalination system is presented. The system is based on an open cycle for water and a closed cycle for the air stream. The air is circulated either by natural or forced circulation. The system modeling is based on various heat and mass balance equations and their numerical solution. The effect of operating parameters on the system characteristics has been investigated. An experimental test set-up has been fabricated and assembled. The set-up has been equipped with appropriate measuring and controlling devices. Detailed experiments have been carried out at various operating conditions and using several packing materials. The heat and mass transfer coefficients have been obtained experimentally and fitted in forms of empirical correlations.The results of the investigation have shown that the system productivity increases with the increase in the mass flow rate of water through the unit. Water temperature at condenser exit increases linearly with water temperature at humidifier inlet and it decreases as water flow rate increases. The higher water temperature at humidifier inlet or water flow rate, the higher is the air temperature and humidity ratio at condenser inlet and exit. A maximum productivity of 5.8 liter/h has been obtained using wooden slates packing and with forced air circulation. No significant improvement in the performance of the desalination unit has been achieved by forced circulation of air at high water temperatures. The average relative deviation of theoretical predictions from measurements is (− 0.9%) in the air temperature at condenser inlet, (3.8%) in the humidity ratio at condenser exit and (− 1%) in the water temperature at condenser exit.     

A solar desalination system using humidification–dehumidification process: experimental study and comparison with the theoretical results

In this study, influence of the different system operating conditions on the performance of a solar desalination system using humidification-dehumidification process have been investigated experimentally under the climatological conditions of Ankara (40°N, 33°E), Turkey. An experimental set-up that consists of a double-pass flat plate solar air heater with two glass covers, pad humidifier, dehumidifying exchanger and water storage tank was designed and manufactured. Working principle of the set-up is based on the idea of closed water and open-air cycles. A series of tests were performed on it in outdoor environment, in order to assess the effect of mass flow rate of the feed water, process air and cooling water, double-pass flat plate solar air heater, initial water temperature and amount of the water inside the storage tank on the productivity of the system. Additionally, an evacuated tubular solar water heater unit was integrated to the existing system and the effect of this integration on the performance of the system was examined. Solar radiation, wind speed, relative humidity, mass flow rate of the feed water, process air and cooling water, mass of condensate water and temperatures at various locations were obtained during the experiments.

The results of the experimental study showed that under certain operating conditions, the system productivity decreases about 15% if double-pass solar air heater is not used and significant improvement on the productivity of the system is achieved by increasing the initial water temperature inside the storage tank. In addition, productivity of the system increases with increasing the feed water mass flow rate and quantity of water inside the storage tank. However, productivity of the system remains approximately the same when the air mass flow rate is increased. Moreover, increasing the cooling water mass flow rate results in the improvement on the productivity of the system investigated. Finally, results obtained from the present investigation were compared with the theoretical study and a good agreement between them is observed.     

Experimental study of the performance of a cooling tower used in a solar distiller

In this work, we investigated experimentally the thermal performance of a forced cooling tower used in a solar desalination system based on humidification-dehumidification of air. The cooling tower is a counter flow wet one filled with film packing materials.The measured variables were obtained for wide ranges of mass flow rates of air and water as well as for several inlet water temperatures; the tower characteristic and efficiency were then evaluated and expressed in terms of water to air mass flow rate ratio.     

Solar desalination using humidification—dehumidification technology

A numerical study has been carried out to investigate the performance of a simple solar desalination system using humidification—dehumidification processes. The desalination system consists of a solar air heater, humidifier, dehumidifier and a circulating air-driving component. The study covers the influence of different environmental, design, and operational parameters on the desalination system productivity. Environmental parameters include solar intensity, ambient temperature and wind speed. Design parameters include the solar heater base insulation, the humidifier and the dehumidifier effectiveness. Operational parameters include air circulation flow rate, feed water rate and temperature. The results indicated that the solar air heater (energy source) efficiency significantly influences system productivity. Increasing the solar intensity and ambient temperature and decreased wind velocity increases system productivity. Increasing the air flow rate up to 0.6 kg/s increases the productivity, after which it has no significant effect. The feed water flow rate has an insignificant influence on system productivity. The surprising result is that the dehumidifier effectiveness has an insignificant influence on system productivity, which has a very important implication for the system's economy. The physical explanation of this finding is given.     

Utilization of solar energy for direct contact membrane distillation process: An experimental study for desalination of real seawater

Membrane distillation (MD), a non-isothermal membrane separation process, is based on the phenomenon that pure water in its vapor state can be extracted from aqueous solutions by passing vapor through a hydrophobic microporous membrane when a temperature difference is established across it. We used three commercially available hydrophobic microporous membranes (C02, C07 and C12; based on the pore size 0.2, 0.7 and 1.2 μm respectively) for desalination via direct contact MD (DCMD). The effects of operating parameters on permeation flux were studied. In addition, the desalination of seawater by solar assisted DCMD process was experimentally investigated. First, using solar power only short-term (one day), successful desalination of real seawater was achieved without temperature control under the following conditions: feed inlet temperature 65.0 °C, permeate inlet temperature 25.0 °C, and a flow rate of 2.5 L/min. The developed system also worked well in the long-term (150 days) for seawater desalination using both solar and electric power. Long-term test flux was reduced from 28.48 to only 26.50 L/m²hr, indicating system feasibility.     

逆流湿化器的效能分析

采用75组逆流湿化器实验数据,对基于改进效能定义式的直接接触换热器ε-NTU方程进行了验证,并分析了压力、水气比、进口水温、进口空气湿球温度等操作参数对热容量流比和效能的影响。结果表明,改进ε-NTU方程的最大计算相对误差为27.7%,可用于工程计算;热容量流比随操作参数的变化单调增减,而效能曲线在热容量流比等于1时存在最小值拐点;固定操作压力下,进口空气湿球温度、水气比、进口水温的变化对逆流湿化器效能的影响依次减小。     

Empirical model for the condenser of the seawater greenhouse

Seawater greenhouses (SWGH) utilize seawater or saline/brackish groundwater for cooling the microclimate and providing freshwater for irrigation through a humidification–dehumidification desalination process. The overall effectiveness of the SWGH greatly depends on the effectiveness of its condenser. The present study provides a good review on the available simulation models of the SWGH condenser and proposes a multiple linear regression model to predict the dehumidification rate of the condenser in the Oman SWGH. Four climatic and operational input variables were considered, including solar irradiance, inlet moist air temperature, inlet humidity ratio, and inlet air mass flow rate. The results showed that the model accurately predicts the dehumidification rate when compared against experimental values [a mean predictive error (PE)?=??0.127?kg/h and root mean square error (RMSE)?=?4.691?kg/h]. The model also outperformed some other model in several accuracy indicators such as PE, mean absolute predictive error, RMSE, R², index of agreement and fractional variance.     

余热利用集热器性能的实验研究与数值计算

以回转窑表面余热回收用集热器为研究对象,采用实验研究和数值计算方法,分析了集热器的流动和传热特性及其在线运行规律。实验中选取了一种辐射型和两种耦合型结构的集热器进行研究,分析了出口水温、出口压力和工质流量的变化对集热器性能的影响,总结了三种结构类型的集热器在换热量上的变化规律。采用Matlab软件编程进行数值求解,将数值计算结果与实验结果对比,验证了数值计算的准确性。数值分析了入口空气温度、入口空气流速和窑体温度变化时对应的集热器内熵增、火积耗散以及有效度的变化规律。相关计算结果为集热器的优化设计和在线运行参数的选择提供了数据支持。     

Parametric analysis to improve the performance of a solar desalination unit with humidification and dehumidification

A solar desalination unit with humidification and dehumidification, characterized by reusing some of somewhat concentrated saline water after evaporation, recovering condensation heat, and forced air flow, was expected to produce more fresh water. A mathematical model of the unit is presented. The model was experimentally validated for numerical simulation. Parametric analysis was conducted in order to optimize the unit performance. The effect of some of the operating conditions such as flow rates, temperatures of feed water, air and cooling water, etc., was studied in detail. The daily solar productivity corresponding to unit square meter of collector area is about 6 kg/m²/d with 20 MJ solar energy input a day under given conditions. The unit has proven to be an efficient device to utilize solar energy for obtaining fresh water from saline water.     

Heat and Mass Transfer between Air and Liquid Desiccant in Cross‐flow Contact Systems

In this paper, an analytical solution of the coupled heat and mass transfer process in a cross‐flow liquid‐desiccant dehumidifier/regenerator is developed. By the use of reliable assumptions, the government equations for the system are solved by an analytical method. The results of the present analytical solution are compared with experimental data from the literature, and they show good agreement. The maximum error produced by the presented analytical solution is less than 12 %. The effect of the operating parameters is considered using the presented analytical solution. The results show that air inlet humidity, air flow rate, desiccant inlet temperature, and desiccant inlet concentration have more influence on the moisture removal rate in the cross‐flow dehumidifier. Also, air inlet humidity, desiccant inlet temperature, desiccant inlet concentration and desiccant flow rate have more effect on the moisture removal rate in the cross‐flow regenerator. The effect of the Lewis number on the performance of the dehumidifier/regenerator is investigated. As the results show, by the use of Le = 1.08 in the dehumidification process and Le = 0.96 in the regeneration process, instead of the value of unity, better results are obtained. The benefit of the present study is a simplified application for the evaluation of the outlet parameters of the cross‐flow air dehumidifier/regenerator.     

溶液除湿系统中除湿塔的参数分析

采用已得到实验验证的除湿塔模型以及相应的VC++语言程序模块来描述除湿塔中溶液与湿空气之间的热、质交换过程,同时用正交设计法来安排数值实验。通过对实验结果的方差分析,确定各运行参数及它们之间的交互作用的相对重要性。方差分析结果表明:以除湿塔出口空气含湿量作实验指标时,重要参数包括入口溶液的温度和浓度,入口空气的含湿量,干空气与溶质之间的质量流量比率以及换热单元数;以除湿效率作实验指标时,仅有干空气与溶质之间的质量流量比率及换热单元数是重要参数;参数之间的交互作用对除湿塔出口空气含湿量和除湿效率都没有影响。     

Energy Analysis of a New Design of a Photovoltaic Cell-Assisted Solar Dryer

In this study, a new type of solar dryer was designed and manufactured. This new solar dryer is composed of a heat pipe collector, a drying chamber, a load cell, an air circulation fan, photovoltaic cells (PvC), batteries, and halogen lamps. In this experimental study, tomatoes were used to test the drying process. The drying air was heated by the heat pipe collector and forced through the tomatoes by a blower fan during the daytime. The photovoltaic cells, which were used to run the fan, were also used to charge the batteries during the day. These charged batteries were used for running the halogen lamps during the night, when the halogen lamps were used to heat the drying-air-assisted photovoltaic cells. During the drying period, the drying air temperature, relative humidity, air flow rates, solar radiation, and loss of mass were measured in the solar dryer. Then, the measured data were used for energy analysis.     

Humidification-dehumidification desalination system driven by geothermal energy

The work presented in this paper focuses on desalinating sea water system using a humidification-dehumidification process as it is supplied with water heated by geothermal energy as clean and renewable natural resources of energy. Computer simulation of the behavior under various working conditions of the desalination system was carried out to predict the variations of key output. Such variables include the ratio of sea water mass flow rate related to air mass flow rate, cooling water temperature difference across the condenser, geothermal source inlet temperatures to the heat exchanger and the amount of produced distilled water. To validate the computer program, a comparison between the experimental and theoretical results was conducted, and a good agreement had been obtained. The result showed that, the optimum value of the ratio between sea water mass flow rate to air mass flow rate was found to be in the range of 1.5 to 2.5. Improvement in the fresh water productivity at the optimum ratio of sea water mass flow rate to the air flow rate was observed by increasing both the geothermal source inlet temperature and the cooling water temperature difference across the condenser.     

A hybrid solar desalination process of the multi-effect humidification dehumidification and basin-type unit

This paper presents a hybrid solar desalination process of the multi-effect humidification dehumidification and the basin-type unit. The sketch of the hybrid solar desalination process is given. The solar vacuated tube collector is employed in the desalination system, multi-effect humidification dehumidification desalination (HDD) process is plotted according to pinch technology, and then the water rejected from multi-effect HDD process is reused to desalinate in a basin-type unit further. The gain output ratio (GOR) of this system will rise by 2–3 at least through reusing the rejected water. The research proves that the multi-effect HDD has much room to be improved. A hybrid solar desalination process of the multi-effect humidification dehumidification and the basin-type unit should be noticed.     

Influence of drum inlet air conditions on drying process in a domestic tumble dryer

This study examines how the inlet air temperature, relative humidity, and flow rate influence the textile drying process in an open cycle tumble dryer. An experimental setup was prepared by connecting a domestic tumble dryer to an external system for controlled heating, humidification, and transport of air. Experiments were conducted by drying cotton textiles (8?kg dry mass) at different air inlet conditions. On the basis of measured data, correlations for determination of the total drying time, the moisture evaporation rate during the constant drying rate, and the area-mass transfer coefficient were developed. The process in the drum was modeled by using an established moisture evaporation model, based on sorption isotherms. A commonly used and a recently reported sorption isotherm for cotton were used with the model. Agreement between calculated and measured drying curves was better in case of the commonly used sorption isotherm, but final moisture content was better predicted by the recently reported sorption isotherm.     

基于NTU的太阳能溶液集热/再生器性能分析

太阳能溶液集热/再生器是集太阳能光热转化和溶液再生于一体的装置,它能有效实现太阳能溶液除湿蒸发冷却系统的溶液再生。通过自定义总温差（ΔT₀）和量纲1散热系数两个变量,得到以传热单元数为自变量的量纲1耦合传热、传质模型,并通过与相关实验对比对模型进行了验证。通过对空气和溶液入口参数变化对溶液集热再生性能影响分析,发现空气入口温度提高12℃、湿度降低12 g•kg^-1,溶液出口浓度升幅分别提高30%和70%以上;溶液入口温度提高30℃,溶液出口浓度升幅提高160%以上。对4组量纲群分析,得到传热单元数NTU、流量比ASMR、总温差ΔT0和Lewis数Le的增加都能促进溶液再生。逆流再生比顺流再生的出口浓度增幅能提高10%左右。     

可旋转的太阳能集热—减压膜蒸馏式脱盐研究

设计构建了1套新型可旋转的太阳能集热—减压膜蒸馏脱盐系统装置,以太阳能集热提供热源,以3.5%的氯化钠溶液模拟海水进行脱盐实验。研究了不同进料液温度、冷侧真空度、进料液流量对膜组件性能的影响,以及1个工作日内膜通量、淡水电导率和截留率的影响变化。结果表明:当系统运行稳定时,膜组件入口进料液温度、冷侧真空度和进料液流量是影响系统性能的主要因素,且在1个工作日内系统所产淡水的电导率可达到10μS/cm以下,截留率可达到99.9%以上。     

EXTERNAL RECYCLE ON UPWARD-TYPE DOUBLE-PASS SOLAR AIR HEATERS

The external recycle effect on collector efficiency in an upward-type double-pass flat-plate solar air heater is investigated theoretically. Application of recycle to a solar air heater has two conflicting effects: the desirable effect of increasing the heat transfer coefficient and the undesirable effect of decreasing the heat transfer driving force (temperature difference). The theoretical predictions show that more than 150% improvement in collector efficiency is obtainable if external recycling is carried out in a way that the advantage effect compensates for the disadvantage effect. The collector performance improvement increases with increasing recycling ratio, especially when operating at a lower airflow rate with higher inlet air temperature. The collector efficiency obtained with a double-pass device with recycling improves the efficiency obtained with a single-pass device of the same size with recycling.     

Experimental Investigations on the Performance of a Packed Bed Dehumidifier for Various Climatic Conditions

To simulate space cooling or drying systems for various geographical regions (low, moderate, and high humidity regions) a liquid desiccant system consisting of a humidifier and dehumidifier has been designed and constructed. This system consists of two coupled humidifying and dehumidifying packed columns filled with plastic Intalox Snowflake packing material. Experimental measurements of the dehumidifier performance utilizing a new effective liquid desiccant mixture (CELD) total desiccant salt content 40%wt.to 45%wt (salt comprised of equal portions by weight of lithium chloride and calcium chloride ), have. been carried out, The effect of different independent variables such as packing height, air inlet temperature and humidity ratio, and liquid desiccant inlet temperature, flow rate and concentration on the performance of the dehumidifier has been investigated. Experimental results demonstrate that the CELD is a promising desiccant for cooling and drying operations.     

The drying kinetics of seeded grape in solar dryer with PCM-based solar integrated collector

This paper presents a novel type of dryer for experimentally evaluating the drying kinetics of seeded grapes. In the developed drying system, it has been particularly included an expanded-surface solar air collector, a solar air collector with phase-change material (PCM) and drying room with swirl element. An expanded-surface solar air collector has been used to achieve high heat transfer and turbulence effect whiles a solar air collector with PCM has been used to perform the drying process even after the sunset. On the other hand, the swirl elements have been located to give the swirl effect to air flow in drying room. These advantages make the proposed novel system a promising dryer in that lower moisture value and less drying time. The drying experiments have been carried out simultaneously both under natural conditions and by the dryer with swirl flow and without swirl flow at three different air velocities. The obtained moisture ratio values have been applied to six different moisture ratio models in the literature. The model having the highest correlation coefficient (R) and the lowest Chi-square (χ²) value has been determined as the most relevant one for each seeded grape drying status.