Application of a Solar Desiccant/Collector System for Water Recovery from Atmospheric Air.

Document Type : Research Studies

Authors

Mechanical Power Engineering Department., Faculty of Engineering., El-Mansoura University., Mansoura., Egypt.

Abstract

An integrated desiccant/solar collector system for production of fresh water from atmospheric air has been described. The solar driven system provided about 1.5 liter of fresh water per square meter per day. The system involves night absorption of water vapor from ambient air and simultaneous desiccant regeneration and water vapor condensation during the daytime. To enhance the mass transfer surface, a thick corrugated layer of cloth was used as a bed carrying the liquid absorbent in the nocturnal phase of operation, air is allowed to penetrate the desiccant bed. The forced airflow is driven by special fans supported on one side of the desiccant / solar collector unit In this study, the effect of different parameters on the absorption and regeneration processes was discussed, and the operational conditions for the proposed equipment were found. Radiation intensity, ambient temperature, bed temperature and temperature of glass surface art recorded. Also, the productivity of the system has been plotted along the daytime, for given operating conditions. A mathematical model is prepared Where its output is compared with the analyzed experimental data. The experimental set-up, which has a square collection area of 2 m2 was operated at the Solar Energy Application Laboratory, Mansoura University, Faculty of Engineering.

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