Sensitive analysis on an integrated system of brackish water greenhouse desalination for freshwater production and crop growth.

In order to provide favourable conditions for the crop growth and freshwater for irrigation, a novel integrated system of brackish water greenhouse desalination (BWGD) with return air is proposed. A one-dimensional steady-state model of the proposed BWGD has been developed to investigate sensitive analysis of factors based on orthogonal test method. The thermal stratification phenomena caused by the return air divides the internal space of the greenhouse into the crop layer and internal air layer. Both the favourable temperature of the crop layer and optimal freshwater production can be satisfied by merely regulating the most significant factors of inlet brackish water temperature and flow rate of condenser while the air temperature and relative humidity at the conditions of the optimal freshwater production does not favor the crop growth in the classical BWGD. The maximum freshwater production does not occur at 11 am when the solar radiation is the greatest due to the thermal stratification phenomena. The freshwater production of 1,118 L/d outweighs the total irrigation demand of 1,082 L/d. The proposed BWGD, which is an important step forward towards improving the performance of BWGD, provides innovative solutions to the problems of water for agriculture and the crop growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]