Conference article

Results of theoretical simulations of the steady-state operation of the dynamic solar thermal desalination unit with a fluid piston are presented in this paper. A laboratory prototype of a dynamic thermal water distillation unit was developed and it was built around an engine with fluid pistons. In the calculation scheme; the internal circuit of the desalination unit was split into several control volumes; namely the evaporator; the condenser and the cylinder. The lumped parameter mathematical model was derived based on the differential energy and mass conservation equations written for each of the control volumes and describing heat and mass transfer processes taking place during water evaporation and condensation under the cyclic variation of the pressure and temperature inside the system when the engine operates. The solution of the set of governing equations produces information on the variation of temperatures and pressure inside the system over the thermodynamic cycle and on the water desalination capacity of the unit.

Solar water desalination; mathematical modellin