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Solar Desalination
Solar Desalination
+ =
w
w
g w
g w c
T
P
P P
T T h
(7)
Where Pw and Pg are the saturation partial pressures of water
vapour (N/m
2
) at water temperature and glass temperature
respectively.
The evaporative heat loss q
e
from water to the glass cover can be
calculated by knowing the mass transfer coefficient and
convective heat transfer coefficient. The empirical expression for
q
e
as give by Dunkle is given as :
) ( 28 . 16
g w c e
P P h q =
.(8)
Heat loss through the ground and periphery q
b
is difficult to
compute since the soil temperature is unknown. Moreover, the
heat conducted in the soil during daytime comes back in the
basin during night time. However, it can be computed from the
following simple relation :
) (
a w b b
T T U q =
.(9)
Where U
b
is the overall heat transfer coefficient from bottom.
The convective heat loss q
ca
from glass cover to
ambient air can be calculated from the following
expression :
) (
a g ca ca
T T h q =
(10)
Where h
ca
is the forced convection heat transfer
coefficient and is given by :
V h
ca
8 . 3 8 . 2 + =
(11)
Where V is the wind speed in m/s.
The radiative heat loss q
ra
from glass to sky can be
determined provided the radiant sky temperature T
s
is
known, which very much depends on atmospheric
conditions such as the presence of clouds etc.
Generally for practical purposes the average sky
temperature T
s
can be assumed to be about 12 K
below ambient temperature, i.e. T
g
= T
a
- 12. Thus
radiative heat loss q
ra
from glass cover to the
atmosphere is given as:
) (
4 4
s g g ra
T T q = o c
. (12)
Where c
g
is the emissivity of glass cover.
The exact solution of the above simultaneous equations
is not possible and hence iterative technique is
employed to find the solution. The digital simulation
techniques for solving the above equations for a
particular set of condition can also be adopted. Even
charts are given by Morse and Read and Howe which
can be used for performance prediction of solar stills for
a particular set of conditions.
Main Problems of Solar Still
Low distillate output per unit area
Leakage of vapour through joints
High maintenance
Productivity decreases with time for
a variety of reasons
Cost per unit output is very high
CONCLUSIONS ON BASIN- TYPE SOLAR STILL
1. The solar still output (distillate) is a strong function of
solar radiation on a horizontal surface. The distillate
output increases linearly with the solar insolation for a
given ambient temperature. If the ambient temperature
increases or the wind velocity decreases, the heat loss
from solar still decreases resulting in higher distillation
rate. It is observed for each 10C rise in ambient
temperature the output increases by 10 percent.
2. The depth of water in the basin also effects the
performance considerably. At lower basin depths, the
thermal capacity will be lower and hence the increase in
water temperature will be large resulting in higher
output. However, it all depends on the insulation of the
still. If there is no lnsulatlon, increase in water
temperature will also increase the bottom heat loss. It
has been observed that if the water depth increases from
1.2 cm to 30 cm the output of still decreases by 30
percent.
CONCLUSIONS ON BASIN- TYPE SOLAR
STILL (contd.)
3. Number of transparent covers in a solar still do
not increase the output since it increases the
temperature of the inner cover resulting in
lower condensation of water vapour.
4. Lower cover slope increases the output. From
practical considerations a minimum cover slope
of 10 deg. is suggested.
5. The maximum possible efficiency of a single
basin solar still is about 60 percent.
6. For higher receipt of solar radiation and
therefore the higher yield the long axis of the
solar still should be placed in the East-West
direction if the still is installed at a high
latitude station. At low latitude stations the
orientation has no effect on solar radiation
receipt.
ADDITIONAL CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FROM
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON SOLAR STILLS
7. The main problem in a solar still Is the salt deposition of
calcium carbonate and calcium sulphate on the basin liner
which are white and insoluble and reflect solar radiation
from basin water and basin liner and thereby lowering the
still output. It is difficult to stop the salt deposition.
8. The physical methods suggested to prevent the salt
deposition are Frequent flushing of the stills with
complete drainage & Refilling or continuous agitation of
the still water by circulating it with a small pump.
9. Once the salt gets deposited then the only way is
completely draining the still and then scrubbing the sides
and basin liner and then refilling the still.
10. Another serious observation made in Australia is the
crystalline salt growth which takes place on the sides of
the basin and into the distillate trough effecting the purity
of distilled water.
11. Some success in preventing the crystalline salt growth is
achieved in Australia by pre-treating the feed water with
a complex phosphate compound which reduces the rate
of nucleation of salt crystals.
ADDITIONAL CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FROM
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON SOLAR STILLS
12. Saline water in the still can be supplied either
continuously or in batches.
13. In Australia continuous supply of saline water in the solar
still is preferred at a rate of about 1.70 I/sq.m hr which
Is twice the maximum distillate rate.
14. This helps in reducing the salt deposition from the salt
solution.
15. From thermal efficiency point of view, batch filling i.e.
filling of saline water when the basin water is coolest
(early morning) is the best but it involves greater labour
costs and special plumbing arrangements.
16. Algae growth within the solar still also effects the
performance to a little extent but its growth must be
checked since its growth is unsightly and may finally block
the basin and contaminate the distillation troughs.
17. The algae growth can be checked by adding copper
sulphate and chlorine compounds in the saline water in
the still.