Assessing the performance of solar desalination system to approach near-ZLD under hyper arid environment

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the performance of a solar desalination system using three different types of feedwater to reach near zero liquid discharge (ZLD) under hyper arid environment. Solar still was used to desalinate seawater (SW), groundwater (GW), and agricultural drainage water (DW). The influence of meteorological parameters on the performance of the solar still was investigated. The system productivity (MD), operational recovery ratio (ORR), and thermal efficiency (ηth) were determined during the desalination process. Some physicochemical properties of the feed, brine, and distilled water were measured such as total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, density (ρ), and color. The performance was in direct proportion to solar radiation and ultraviolet index. The average ranges of the MD, ORR, and ηth were 0.56 L/m2/h, 36.77, and 52.38%, respectively, for all waters. The final recovery ratios were 68, 93, and 95.6% for SW, GW, and DW, respectively. Statis...