Theoretical study of tilted solar still as a regenerator for liquid desiccants

Abstract

A closed type (tilted solar still) solar regenerator has been studied in application to regeneration with liquid desiccants. Essentially, it consists of a flat blackened, tilted surface with a transparent glazing as a covering. The absorbent solution which is to be regenerated trickles down as a thin film over the absorber and is heated by solar energy. The water vapor that evaporates from the liquid film is condensed on the under side of the glass cover and the solution leaving the regenerator becomes strong. A simple expression is derived, in this paper, to estimate the mass of water evaporated from the weak absorbent solution as a function of climatic conditions and initial conditions of the absorbent solution. A comparison is also made with a forced flow air circulation regenerator, and it was found that the closed type regenerator may be used for regeneration only in hot, humid climates.