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. 2023 Oct 1;13(10):821.
doi: 10.3390/membranes13100821.

Experimental and Simulation Study of Solar-Powered Air-Gap Membrane Distillation Technology for Water Desalination

Mostafa AbdEl-Rady Abu-Zeid  1 , Mohamed Bassyouni  2   3   4 , Yasser Fouad  5 , Toderaș Monica  6 , Abdelfatah Marni Sandid  7 , Yasser Elhenawy  2   8   9
Affiliations

Experimental and Simulation Study of Solar-Powered Air-Gap Membrane Distillation Technology for Water Desalination

Mostafa AbdEl-Rady Abu-Zeid et al. Membranes (Basel). .

Abstract

This work aimed to investigate temperature polarization (TP) and concentration polarization (CP), which affect solar-powered air-gap membrane distillation (SP-AGMD) system performance under various operating conditions. A mathematical model for the SP-AGMD system using the experimental results was performed to calculate the temperature polarization coefficient (τ), interface temperature (Tfm), and interface concentration (Cfm) at various salt concentrations (Cf), feed temperatures (Tf), and flow rates (Mf). The system of SP-AGMD was simulated using the TRNSYS program. An evacuated tube collector (ETC) with a 2.5 m2 surface area was utilized for solar water heating. Electrical powering of cooler and circulation water pumps in the SP-AGMD system was provided using a photovoltaic system. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Spearman's correlation analysis to test the significant impact of operating conditions and polarization phenomena at p < 0.05. Statistical analysis showed that Mf induced a highly significant difference in the productivity (Pr) and heat-transfer (hf) coefficients (p < 0.001) and a significant difference in τ (p < 0.05). Great F-ratios showed that Mf is the most influential parameter. Pr was enhanced by 99% and 146%, with increasing Tf (60 °C) and Mf (12 L/h), respectively, at a stable salt concentration (Cf) of 0.5% and a cooling temperature (Tc) of 20 °C. Also, the temperature increased to 85 °C when solar radiation reached 1002 W/m2 during summer. The inlet heat temperature of AGMD increased to 73 °C, and the Pr reached 1.62 kg/(m2·h).

Keywords: AGMD; Spearman’s correlation analysis; evacuated tube collector; mathematical modeling; polarization phenomena.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Temperature polarization (TP) and concentration polarization (CP) in the AGMD module.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The SP-AGMD model uses a solar collector and photovoltaic panels.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic diagram of the experimental setup of the SP-AGMD system.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Change in the (a) Pr, (b) τ, and (c) hf for the SP-AGMD system at different feed temperatures (Tf), with standard errors.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Change in the (a) Pr, (b) τ, and (c) hf for the SP-AGMD system at different feed temperatures (Tf), with standard errors.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The correlation between feed temperature (Tf) and (a) Pr, (b) τ, and (c) hf for the SP-AGMD system.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The correlation between feed temperature (Tf) and (a) Pr, (b) τ, and (c) hf for the SP-AGMD system.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Change in the (a) Pr, (b) τ, and (c) hf for the SP-AGMD system at different flow rates (Mf). With standard errors.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Change in the (a) Pr, (b) τ, and (c) hf for the SP-AGMD system at different flow rates (Mf). With standard errors.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The correlation between feed flow rate (Mf) and (a) Pr, (b) τ, and (c) hf for the SP-AGMD system.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The correlation between feed flow rate (Mf) and (a) Pr, (b) τ, and (c) hf for the SP-AGMD system.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Change in the (a) Pr, (b) τ, and (c) hf for the SP-AGMD system at different feed salt concentrations (Cf), with standard errors.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Change in the (a) Pr, (b) τ, and (c) hf for the SP-AGMD system at different feed salt concentrations (Cf), with standard errors.
Figure 9
Figure 9
The correlation between feed salt concentration (Cf) and (a) Pr, (b) τ, and (c) hf for the SP-AGMD system.
Figure 9
Figure 9
The correlation between feed salt concentration (Cf) and (a) Pr, (b) τ, and (c) hf for the SP-AGMD system.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Temperature of ETC and global radiation in winter and summer.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Temperature of ETC and water productivity of Port Said City weather.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Comparison between the power of both the cooler and pumps with the PV system for the SP-AGMD system.
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