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Solar energy desalination for arid coastal regions: development of a humidification--dehumidification seawater greenhouse
- Source :
- Solar Energy. Nov, 2003, Vol. 75 Issue 5, p413, 7 p.
- Publication Year :
- 2003
-
Abstract
- The long-term aim of our research is to develop humidification-dehumidification desalination technology for farms in arid coastal regions that are suffering from salt-infected soils and shortages of potable groundwater. The specific aim of our current study was to determine the influence of greenhouse-related parameters on a process, called Seawater Greenhouse, which combines fresh water production with growth of crops in a greenhouse system. A thermodynamic model was used based on heat and mass balances. The dimension of the greenhouse had the greatest overall effect on the water production and energy consumption. A wide shallow greenhouse, 200 m wide by 50 m deep gave 125 [m.sup.3] [d.sup.-1] of fresh water. This was greater than a factor of two compared to the worst-case scenario with the same area (50 m wide by 200 m deep), which gave 58 [m.sup.3] [d.sup.-1]. Low power consumption went hand-in-hand with high efficiency. The wide shallow greenhouse consumed 1.16 kW h [m.sup.-3], while the narrow deep structure consumed 5.02 kW h [m.sup.-3]. Analysis of the local climate indicated that the structure should be built facing the NE direction. We are also in the process of building a commercial size Seawater Greenhouse at a site by the sea. The aim is to demonstrate the technology to local farmers and companies in the Arabian Gulf. The system will allow for the reclamation of salt-infected land by not relying, at all, on groundwater resources. [c] 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Subjects :
- Solar stills -- Research
Earth sciences
Petroleum, energy and mining industries
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0038092X
- Volume :
- 75
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Gale General OneFile
- Journal :
- Solar Energy
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsgcl.111935073