Open Access

ARTICLE

Performance Evaluation of an Evaporative Cooling Pad for Humidification -Dehumidification Desalination

Ibtissam El Aouni, Hicham Labrim, Elhoussaine Ouabida, Ahmed Ait Errouhi, Rachid El Bouayadi, Driss Zejli, Aouatif Saad^*

Advanced Systems Engineering Laboratory, National School of Applied Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, 14000, Morocco

* Corresponding Author: Aouatif Saad. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Materials and Energy an Updated Image for 2023)

Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing 2024, 20(10), 2323-2335. https://doi.org/10.32604/fdmp.2024.050611

Received 12 February 2024; Accepted 14 June 2024; Issue published 23 September 2024

Abstract

The perfect combination of renewable energy and desalination technologies is the key to meeting water demands in a cost-effective, efficient and environmentally friendly way. The desalination technique by humidification-dehumidification is non-conventional approach suitable for areas with low infrastructure (such as rural and decentralized regions) since it does not require permanent maintenance. In this study, this technology is implemented by using solar energy as a source of thermal power. A seawater desalination unit is considered, which consists of a chamber with two evaporators (humidifiers), a wetted porous material made of a corrugated cellulose cardboard and a condenser (dehumidifier). The evaporation system is tested with dry bulb temperature and relative air humidity data. The results of numerical simulations indicate that higher inlet air velocities (from 0.75 to 3 m/s) lead to a decrease in the ΔT, ΔRH, and effectiveness. With the air remaining within the evaporator for 30 cm, the temperature differential increases to 5.7°C, accompanied by a 39% rise in relative humidity contrast. These changes result in a significant enhancement in humidification efficiency, achieving a remarkable efficiency level of 78%. However, a wettability value of 630 m²/m³ leads to a smaller reduction of these parameters. Increasing the pad thickness, particularly to 0.3 m, improves performance by boosting ΔT, ΔRH, and effectiveness, especially for pads with a wettability of 630 m²/m³, for which superior performances are predicted by the numerical tests.

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Keywords

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