Assessment of thermoeconomic and thermoenvironmental impacts of a novel solar desalination system using a heat pump, evacuated tubes, cover cooling, and ultrasonic mist

Abstract

Various desalination methods have been introduced to address the growing demand for freshwater. Among these methods, solar stills have emerged as one of the simplest approaches. However, their performance has been hindered by low reliability, particularly due to heavy reliance on solar energy year-round. Addressing this issue, this study presents a novel and reliable solar desalination unit incorporating an evacuated tube water solar heater as a heat collector and a 250 W heat pump unit for condensation. Additionally, ultrasonic atomizers are integrated to facilitate vapor generation and accelerate its separation from the hot water fed into the desalination unit. The research commences with the selection of the optimal number of atomizers, followed by a comprehensive analysis encompassing environmental, economic, exergy, and energy (4E) considerations for the system with the optimal atomizer configuration. Furthermore, cover cooling is implemented to enhance condensation rates. Results indicate that the system, equipped with a single atomizer, yields 19.565 L/m2 per day of distilled water, with daily energy and exergy efficiencies of 62.39 % and 6.04 %, respectively. Following cover cooling, the system achieves production of 20.95 L/m2 of distilled water per day, accompanied by energy and exergy efficiencies of 65.48 % and 6.67 %, respectively. These improvements represent enhancements in freshwater production, energy efficiency, and exergy efficiency by 431.7 %, 57.82 %, and 74.61 %, respectively. Additionally, the system demonstrates a cost reduction of 14.36 % and a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions by 11.17 tons CO2, underscoring its economic and environmental benefits. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd