Direct contact membrane water distillation assisted with solar energy

• Published in: Energy conversion and management Vol. 110; pp. 397 - 406
• Main Authors: Elzahaby, Aly M., Kabeel, A.E., Bassuoni, M.M., Elbar, Ayman Refat Abd
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15-02-2016
• Subjects: Contact; Cooling rate; Desalination; Distilled water; GOR; Inlets; Mathematical models; Membrane; Membranes; Solar energy; Water flow; Water temperature; Membrane; GOR; Desalination; Solar energy
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2015.12.046

•The effect of operating and geometric parameters on the unit performance was studied.•Maximum productivity and daily efficiency reached 40.587kg/day, 60.06%, respectively.•Gain output ratio (GOR) reached 0.624.•Membrane inner diameter should be higher than 2.5mm to reduce pressure loss in membrane.
An experimental and theoretical investigation for salt water desalination using tubular direct contact membrane distillation is introduced. The effect of operating and geometric parameters on the unit performance was studied. These parameters include feed water inlet temperature, feed water flow rate, salt concentration, cooling water temperature and membrane inner diameter and length. System thermal efficiency and gain output ratio (GOR) are also evaluated. The investigated parameters were set as follows: 70°C for inlet feed water temperature, 15–20L/min for feed water flow rate, 0–40g Nacl/L water for feed water salt concentration, 20–56°C for the inlet cooling water temperature, and 15–20L/min for cooling water flow rate. Maximum productivity, daily efficiency, and Gain output ratio (GOR) of the system reached 40.587kg/day, 60.06% and 0.624 respectively. Finally, a good agreement has been found between the present numerical data and experimental results.