Study of water desalination techniques and a review on active solar distillation methods

Abstract

Energy crisis and water born diseases caused by impure water are two major concerns of the present era. Various techniques have been used to make saline/brackish water potable. Filtration, precipitation, sterilization, chemical treatment, etc. are some processes that remove macro impurities from impure water. Distillation is thermal energy‐based process that effectively removes contaminants from impure water. Reverse osmosis is a membrane‐based technique widely used for the purification purposes. Electrodialysis, Ion‐exchange, and Freezing are some other processes used to get soft/distilled water for various commercial and domestic uses. Most of the desalination techniques utilize energy from the nonrenewable energy sources. Solar distillation is one of the solutions of getting potable water using solar energy. Solar distillation unit coupled with thermal collectors, photovoltaic panels, and concentrators makes the system active and increases the distillate three to six times than conventional units. Multistage, multieffect active solar still is observed to give an average distillate output of 20 kg/m2/d. Economic analysis also shows that active solar still is a good replacement of nonrenewable energy based water purification techniques. In this article, different water desalination techniques with their economic analysis are briefly discussed. Detailed comprehensive review of researches carried out on active solar still system considering their designs, performance parameters, different hybrid combinations, along with challenges, opportunities, future scope of improvements have also been highlighted. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 444–464, 2018

Recent Advancements In Stepped Solar Still & Its Performance Parameters

“…But the availability of fresh water from the natural water resources is shrinking day by day due to rapid growth of population, water pollution and poor water management. Contaminated water always contains some harmful bacteria, viruses, dissolved and undisclosed materials, chemical and physical contaminants which causes serious damage to health on consumption [1][2][3]. There are different kind of purification methods suchas sedimentation, filtration, and distillation etc.…”

Analysis of Partially Evacuated Solar Still System under Jordan Climate

“…As fresh water constitutes less than 2.6% of the water available on the Earth, scientists focused on improving and devising different distillation techniques. Manchanda and Kumar [2017], studied the water desalination techniques, they presented a review on the active solar distillation methods [Manchanda 2017]. Naim and Abd El Kawi [2003] constructed a Solar Still (SS) with charcoal.…”

“…Sharshir et al [2016] conducted a detailed review of SS systems with the recent developments. Water purification methods and economic analysis have been presented [Manchanda 2017]. Sharshir attempted to enhance the SS performance by using new type of micro-flakes with different weight concentrations, film cooling and different water depths.…”

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“…Design of a system for producing fresh water which can meet water needs of a city or village respecting the cost reduction is necessary and inevitable. Several methods can be applied to produce fresh water from saline water . One of the most efficient methods that can provide fresh water at a favorable cost is reverse osmosis system .…”

“…Several methods can be applied to produce fresh water from saline water. [1][2][3][4] One of the most efficient methods that can provide fresh water at a favorable cost is reverse osmosis system. 5 Producing the fresh water by applying reverse osmosis technology attracts the researcher's attention around the world.…”