Experimental study on direct water distillation system using solar evacuated tube collectors

Abstract EN

In this work, experimental study and investigation are carried out to examine a solar distillation system that uses solar evacuated tube collectors.

The proposed thermal distillation system is based on the use of heat pipes solar evacuated tube collectors, which is very efficient in absorbing solar thermal energy and with high thermal insulation efficiency.

The energy produced by the condensed steam is reused by a heat recovery system to serve as an additional input of energy to preheat the inlet water stream.

The evacuated tubes collector is an array composed of 20 evacuated tubes, and a heavily thermally insulated manifold header, stainless steel support frame, and standard mounting frame package.

Each tube has a diameter of 58mm and a length of 1800mm, and the overall dimensions of the panel are 1760x1500x180mm.

The distillation system is monitored and controlled through Arduino electronics and a waterproof temperature sensor.

The passage of water inside the manifold is done through a control process is based on thermocouple sensors and a water pump.

The experiment was carried out in June and for several days.

The system was operated from sunrise to sunset and data recorded from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm every day.

The collected pure water quantities were 52, 51, 32, and 54 L/day during four consecutive days.

These produced quantities indicate the feasibility of using this method in the distillation of water in different applications in reasonable commercial quantities.