Abstract
In this work, an experimental study on new series connection of two Ranque-Hilsch vortex tubes with new vortex generator materials, potential in seawater desalination was implemented, this combined modification has not been studied in open literature. Polycarbonate and Polyamide-Nylon 6 were tested and compared as new vortex generator materials that enhance the heat transfer between the two air streams inside the vortex tube. Moreover, using new seawater preheater by utilizing the waste heat in the exit air stream from the last vortex tube in the arrangement. The results revealed that the hot fraction of both arrangements should be kept at 0.5 for optimum vortex tubes series connection performance. Moreover, the modified series arrangement with Polycarbonate generator had higher evaporator main hot temperature and lower condenser main cold temperature than that of the modified series arrangement with Polyamide-Nylon 6 generator. Furthermore, the desalinated water percentage of Polycarbonate generator connection and Polyamide-Nylon 6 generator connection were reached about 94% and 89%, respectively. Therefore, the modified series hot connection of Ranque-Hilsch vortex tubes with Polycarbonate based vortex generator is recommended for use in seawater desalination applications.
Highlights
Worldwide seawater desalination became a valuable solution for providing potable water for communities and industrial development, as it turned into the most sustainable water resource alternative
The new vortex generators were manufactured by using computer-aided design (CAD) and the fused deposition modeling (FDM) printer
Elaborated analysis of the system temperature behavior, desalination rate and freshwater production were compared with previous work of Shmroukh et al [13]
Summary
Worldwide seawater desalination became a valuable solution for providing potable water for communities and industrial development, as it turned into the most sustainable water resource alternative. They indicated that their proposed combined system improved effectively the freshwater production and solar desalination efficiency, to reach about 9.805 ton/h and 16.73%, respectively Another solar thermal-based desalination system was investigated experimentally by Zhao et al [3], their system was consisted of multi-stage humidification and dehumidification solar desalination system. They estimated that the maximum freshwater productivity was reached about 12.87 kg/h, their system productivity was increased by 15.51% in contrast to single-stage humidification and dehumidification system, with reducing the costs by 17.36% Another technique was improved by Cao et al [5], they conducted a theoretical analysis on freeze seawater desalination system using liquefied natural gas. Their model results showed that 2 kg/hr of ice meltwater could be obtained by using cold energy of 1 kg/hr of liquefied natural gas
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