Smallsoldes - Development of a small-scale desalination unit driven by solar energy using a variable geometry ejector

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2020

Authors

João Soares (Author) Other; Szabolcs Varga (Author) Other; Behzad Shahzamanian Sichani (Author) FEUP; André Felício (Author) Other; Armando C. Oliveira (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: AIP Conference Proceedings

Pages: 1-9

2019 International Conference on Concentrating Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems, SolarPACES 2019

1 October 2019 through 4 October 2019

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Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-81N

DOI: 10.1063/5.0028736

Abstract (EN): Freshwater demand on our planet is monotonously increasing, due to population growth and increasing living standards. The United Nations predicts that two-thirds of the world's population will suffer water shortages by 2025. Although seawater desalination is energy-intensive, it is one of the potential solutions to deal with water shortages. Currently, the global share of renewable energy-driven desalination units for drinking water production is negligible. Research activities have been mostly focused on energy-efficient large plants, and thus there is a lack of robust technologies appropriate for small-scale applications, with a strong market potential (e.g. holiday resorts, small villages). Solar-driven Thermal Vapour Compression (TVC) desalination could be one of the suitable methods. However, there is a lack of know-how on how to implement such technology into small-scale, compact, simple and robust desalination plants. Within the framework of the Small-SolDes project, a small-scale (10 m3/day) low maintenance TVC unit will be developed, constructed and tested for seawater desalination, driven by solar thermal energy. The project was started in June 2018 and will be carried out for 36 months. The Small-SolDes prototype unit will be installed in Porto, Portugal. The present paper presents the system and reports the system design results obtained using numerical simulation. Results show that there is a certain value of motive steam temperature that results in the highest water yield. The solar radiation variable nature supports the development and use of variable geometry ejector in order to improve system performance.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9