Development of an active solar humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination system integrated with geothermal energy. (15th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elminshawy, Nabil A.S.; Siddiqui, Farooq R.; Addas, Mohammad F.
• Is Part Of: Energy conversion and management. Volume 126(2016)
• Page Start: 608
• Page End: 621
• Publication Date: 2016-10-15
• Subjects: Desalination -- Humidification-dehumidification -- Geothermal -- Solar energy; Direct energy conversion -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Periodicals; Energy transfer -- Periodicals; Énergie -- Conversion directe -- Périodiques; Direct energy conversion; Periodicals; 621.3105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2016.08.044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0196-8904

Abstract

Highlights: Productivity increases with increasing geothermal water flow rate up to 0.15 kg/s. Geothermal energy increases productivity by 187–465% when used with solar energy. Daytime experimental productivity (8AM-5PM) up to 104 L/m 2 was achieved. Daily experimental productivity (24 h) up to 192 L/m 2 was achieved. Fresh potable water can be produced at 0.003 USD/L using this desalination setup. Abstract: This paper investigates the technical and economic feasibility of using a hybrid solar-geothermal energy source in a humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination system. The newly developed HDH system is a modified solar still with air blower and condenser used at its inlet and outlet respectively. A geothermal water tank in a temperature range 60–80 °C which imitates a low-grade geothermal energy source was used to supply heat to water inside the humidification chamber. The experiments were conducted in January 2015 under the climatological conditions of Madinah (latitude: 24°33′N, longitude: 39°36′0″E), Saudi Arabia to study the effect of geothermal water temperature and flow rate on the performance and productivity of proposed desalination system. Analytical model was also developed to compare the effect of solar energy and combined solar-geothermal energy on accumulated productivity. Daytime experimental accumulated productivity up to 104 L/m 2 and daily average gained output ratio (GOR) in the range 1.2–1.58 was achieved using the proposed desalination system. Cost of fresh water produced using the presented desalination system is 0.003 USD/L.