Dynamic Simulation of Solar Desalination: Investigation of Climatic Conditions and Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Abstract

This paper examines the numerical analysis of the transient analysis of solar desalination and the effect of climatic conditions on its performance. The solar water desalination plant is intended to convert the salt water of the seas and lakes into fresh water. TRNSYS software is used for simulation. In order to study the effect of weather conditions on the efficiency of solar water desalination, the cities of Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, Isfahan, Hamedan, Kerman, Mashhad, Tabriz, Zahedan and Tehran have been considered. The effect of solar collector area and auxiliary heater power on solar water desalination efficiency has been investigated. The results show that with increasing collector area and auxiliary heater power, the outlet water temperature of the collector increases. Carbon dioxide production has decreased by about 4.5-8.6% compared to diesel desalination. Using the analytic hierarchy process decision-making algorithm, the best location for installing the desalination plant has been selected based on the two criteria of solar water desalination efficiency and distance from the sea. Bushehr city is in the first place with 75% efficiency and Tabriz city is in the second place with 61% efficiency.