Integrated novel solar distillation and solar single-effect absorption systems

Abstract

Novel hybrid single-slope solar distillation systems integrated with single-effect solar absorption cooling system are designed, analyzed and optimized for production of cooling effect and freshwater, simultaneously. The innovative integrated systems are capable of recovering significant portion of the released heat of their own components that is otherwise wasted; with superior performance and lower cost than available systems. The integration of the two solar systems is proposed in three strategic heat recovery configurations: (S1) recovers waste heat from the water vapor leaving the generator, (S2) recovers waste heat from the strong lithium bromide solution leaving the generator, and (S3) recovers waste heat from the hot liquid water leaving the generator. The results show that the productivity of the still is boosted by three-folds compared to the conventional system. S2 negatively affects the COP of the absorption system, however, it improves still productivity to higher values than S1.The COP of S3 is comparable to S1, while the still productivity of S3 is the highest with only slight increase in the area of the evacuated tube collector. S1 has the advantage of enhancing the still productivity and reducing the condenser cooling load without affecting the COP of the basic absorption system. The integrated system achieved an impressive cooling capacity of 20 kW, and still productivity of 10 kg/m2-day with COP of 0.85 at conservative solar radiation of 500 W/m2. The cost of the distilled water in S3 (0.047 $/kg) is lower than in S2 (0.054 $/kg) and S1 (0.061 $/kg).