Investigation of Performance of Solar Powered Water Generator

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate and analyze the performance of solar water generator that produces potable clean water after a dehumidification process. The numerical model presented in this study was established after the conservation of mass and energy equations of the different subsystems of the solar powered water generator. The model was numerically solved under different conditions such as solar radiation, air humidity, air temperature and different air stream flows. the ratings of the dehumidifier are higher of at higher water production rate at lower solar radiation. the results showed that the lower the humidity ratio the higher the evaporator thermal capacity and that the higher the rate of water production the higher the evaporator thermal capacity as well as higher water production was associated with higher air flow and compressor power consumption. In addition, it was concluded that the lower the ambient temperature the higher the hybrid system efficiency and also the hybrid system efficiency increased at lower ambient temperature and higher water production rate. Finally, the predicted results were in fair agreement with experimental data published in the literature.