Experimental investigation of improving the solar desalination system for domestic buildings: Iraq as a case of study

Abstract

Iraq encounters climatic challenges that lead to severe rainfall shortages and compound the regional challenges that lead to reduced rates of supplying rivers. In this research, the proposed design helps obtain pure water from polluted or saline water t lower, more competitive costs that can supply nearly 80% of the Iraqi markets. The system harvests 2 L/day of pure water by adding 5 liters of saline water, a 209% daily improvement. The system consists of 1.125 m2 of double slope single basin solar still with a tilt angle of 30°, pipes, and measurement instrumentation. Maximum inside temperature, humidity, valuable energy, and efficiency have 77 ℃, 35%, 4.02 W/m2, and 76%, respectively. System analysis results demonstrated that the average water condensation rate per square meter is about 0.4 L/hr. Finally, the rate of pure water harvesting from this desalination system, per square meter, is about 0.282 L/m2 per day when the average intensity of solar radiation reaches 165 W/m2. Two scenarios have been suggested for the experiment. The first scenario tests the system by limiting two water levels, the first at 0.75 cm and the second at 3 cm. The second scenario includes the same design with a black cloth set in the basin demonstrates the most promising data. A wet pad regularly cools down one side of the glass to increase the water vapor condensation and production quantity by 173% to enhancing water production significantly.