Abstract
The fossil fuels that power conventional desalination systems cause substantial environmental impact. Solar desalination can satisfy critical water needs with only a minimal contribution to global warming. The current work presents an attractive new design suitable for regions with limited water resources and high solar radiation rates. This work is an experimental study of a newly designed, solar-powered, multi-stage flash (MSF) desalination plant. The design could address the need to increase the limited water resources in solar energy-rich areas. The prototype consists of a solar collector, an MSF unit, and a novel dual thermal storage tank design. In this prototype, preheated brine is directly heated by circulation through the solar collector. Two tanks serve the MSF unit; one tank feeds the MSF unit while the other receives the preheated feed water. The two tanks alternate roles every 24 h. The study was conducted in Taif, Saudi Arabia, throughout the month of September 2020. The results of the experiment showed that 1.92 square meters of solar collector area is needed for an average daily production of 19.7 kg of fresh water, at a cost of approximately $0.015 per liter.
Highlights
Resource shortages for both energy and water production are expected to be a crucial challenge in the coming decades
This region is known for its considerable exposure to sunlight year-round, allowing the solar desalination plant to operate 24 h a day for the entirety of a year
December 2020, the system was subjected to the lowest temperatures experienced by the region at any one time, which verified that the storage system would supply the unit with sufficient heat for the duration of the year
Summary
Resource shortages for both energy and water production are expected to be a crucial challenge in the coming decades. Some countries suffer from a lack of water resources due to pollution, while others endure dry weather conditions. The exponential increase in the world population drives the demand for fresh water. According to the United Nations (UN), the world population was 2.6 billion in 1950. In 1987, it had doubled to 5 billion, followed by an estimated 7.7 billion in 2020. The available data predicts further rapid exponential growth in the global population, with an expected increase to 9.7 billion by 2050 [1]. The basic human right of consuming fresh water is threatened, as almost 30%
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