Development of an Absorption Refrigeration System Powered by Solar Energy to Extract Fresh Water from Humid Air in Saudi Arabia
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extraction of fresh water from humid air in Saudi Arabia by direct solar absorption system using aqueous ammonia 0.45 mass fractions (ammonia–water). In the system, ammonia is boiled out of the water then condensed in an air cooled condenser. The refrigerant is then expanded and evaporates in the evaporator exists inside a tunnel where humid air flows, and therefore the temperature of humid air is reduced beyond its dew point temperature so a process of water separation from humid air starts. To analyze the performance of the system, first a comprehensive mathematical model describing the entire processes accomplished within the major components in the cycle is introduced based on heat and mass conservation balancing considering steady flow processes. The results of calculations are to find out the actual real sizes of all involved major components within the system based on simulation analyzing. The amount of the extracted fresh water from humid air is determined for certain operation conditions in the Kingdome of Saudi Arabia, it was found for real atmospheric conditions to be and the efficiency of the system is 1.369. Furthermore, analyzing the impact of prevailing atmospheric parameters in order to determine their effects on the performance of the system. Thus, and furthermore the investigation involved assessing the influence of different operation conditions such initial flow rate of the working fluid(Ammonia-water), humid air, solar radiation and ambient temperature on the system performance characteristics (system efficiencies, evaporation rate and water productivity).
