Experimental and Numerical Analysis of a PCM-Supported ...
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of a PCM-Supported ...
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of a PCM-Supported ...
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Abstract<br />
This work discusses the results <strong>of</strong> experimental <strong>and</strong> theoretical studies on a<br />
humidification-dehumidification (HDH) water desalination system equipped with<br />
phase change material (<strong>PCM</strong>) as a packing media in all its main components. The<br />
<strong>PCM</strong>-supported HDH system consists <strong>of</strong> an evaporator <strong>and</strong> condenser comprised by<br />
two cylindrical direct-contact packed beds filled with spherical <strong>PCM</strong> packing<br />
elements. Moreover, a solar collector <strong>and</strong> an external <strong>PCM</strong> thermal storage are used<br />
to drive the HDH plant. The external <strong>PCM</strong> thermal storage is used to guarantee<br />
continuous operation <strong>of</strong> the plant day <strong>and</strong> night round the clock under the transient<br />
behaviour <strong>of</strong> solar irradiation.<br />
The objective <strong>of</strong> using <strong>PCM</strong> elements in the evaporator <strong>and</strong> condenser was for heat<br />
storage as a back up during cloudy hours or for part-time night operation. During<br />
analysis <strong>of</strong> steady state conditions, it was discovered that the <strong>PCM</strong> packing media<br />
seem to enhance their thermal performance through locally establishing multipleeffects<br />
<strong>of</strong> heating/humidification (MEHH) <strong>and</strong> cooling/dehumidification (MECD) while<br />
air passing through the successive packing layers in the evaporator <strong>and</strong> condenser<br />
respectively. The multiple-effect phenomena are attributed solely to existence <strong>of</strong><br />
conductive packing media, which act as heat <strong>and</strong> mass exchangers. Thus, the focus<br />
<strong>of</strong> the study lies on the thermal conductivity rather than the thermal capacity or solidliquid<br />
phase change processes <strong>of</strong> the packing in the two columns.<br />
The major aim <strong>of</strong> this study is to examine systematically the effect <strong>of</strong> MEHH <strong>and</strong><br />
MECD at enhanced thermal conductivity <strong>of</strong> the filling material <strong>and</strong> to determine the<br />
technical <strong>and</strong> economic feasibility <strong>of</strong> applying these concepts in HDH desalination<br />
plants under steady state operation conditions.<br />
Transient simulation models for the individual components in the HDH system have<br />
been established <strong>and</strong> validated against experimental measurements. Using both<br />
experiment <strong>and</strong> simulation, a detailed heat <strong>and</strong> mass transfer analysis for the<br />
performance <strong>of</strong> the evaporator <strong>and</strong> condenser over a wide range <strong>of</strong> operation<br />
conditions under steady state has been performed using different types <strong>of</strong> packing<br />
materials. Furthermore, a yearly parametric analysis for the whole HDH plant has<br />
been performed under real weather conditions for two locations in Egypt. The overall<br />
performance analysis focuses on the optimum operation conditions <strong>of</strong> the HDH<br />
system, with optimum conductive filling material, with <strong>and</strong> without external <strong>PCM</strong><br />
thermal buffer. Special attention is paid to the effect <strong>of</strong> climatic conditions <strong>and</strong><br />
comparison between <strong>PCM</strong> <strong>and</strong> water as storage media in the external thermal<br />
storage.<br />
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