Thermal Modelling And Economic Analysis Of Solar Collector Assisted Desalination System With Humidification- Dehumidification

Abstract

Water is one of the most abundant resources on Earth's surface, covering approximately 75% of the planet. Unfortunately, the majority of this water is saline and unsuitable for human consumption, resulting in an acute shortage of potable water in numerous countries, including India.This paper presents a 'thermal model of a solar collector-assisted desalination system employing humidification-dehumidification.' The study evaluates the payback period of this proposed system, utilizing a solar collector and heat exchanger to consistently supply hot water to the desalination unit. The model is constructed based on various heat and mass transfer equations, and a computer program has been developed using the C language to simulate the proposed system.This program utilizes ambient temperature and solar radiation intensity as inputs to predict the fresh water's mass flow rate obtained through desalination. The system's performance has been analyzed under different climatic conditions, specifically those of Gangetic Bengal in the Indian subcontinent.The study demonstrates that this proposed system, utilizing solar energy for distillation, can generate a significant amount of fresh water.