Hybrid solar powered desalination system based on air humidification dehumidification integrated with novel distiller: Exergoeconomic analysis

Abstract

In the current study, an experimental investigation of a hybrid-solar desalination system consisting of humidification–dehumidification unit and a solar distiller (HDH-SD) with exergoeconomic modelling was conducted. Experimental work was performed under outdoor environmental conditions in September 2021. The present work introduces a new humidifier design with helical flow channels and novel solar distiller with multiple sections. The main motivation for analysis is to determine the optimal system operation and design parameters. Exergy-based loss rate, exergy production factor, exergoeconomic parameters, exergy efficiency, and water cost are the main estimated parameters. The result indicates that the maximum HDH-SD system productivity reached 620 L per month. The exergy loss rate in summer is higher than in autumn and spring by about 33% and higher than in winter by about 60%. The exergoeconomic parameter decreases with an increase in interest rates. However, the increase in interest rates causes an increase in water costs. For a lifetime of 30 years and interest rate of 2%, the lowest water cost is about 1.3 $/m3, but the exergoeconomic parameter is the highest. The present study indicates good agreement between the present experimental and numerical investigations.