Performance evaluation of solar-powered atmospheric water harvesting using different glazing materials in the tropical built environment: An experimental study
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2022
Abstract
Water scarcity is a global issue, and its severity is expected to worsen in the near future, prompting further efforts to find new sources of freshwater. Solar-Powered Atmospheric Water Harvesting (SPAWH) is a promising passive approach for atmospheric water generation. This study aims to examine the thermal performance of different glazing materials and water production in SPAWH. The research consists of two phases: a laboratory test of various glazing materials and an experimental study to assess system efficiency in producing water in the tropics. The preliminary results indicated that glass demonstrated better thermal performance than acrylic in the lab, with higher thermal conductivity and less heat loss. The experimental findings showed that the maximum water produced by the proposed SPAWH (60 cm length, 60 cm width and 30 cm height) placed on a 30 degrees tilt angle using glass (3 mm) and acrylic (3 mm) was 0.61 L/m(2)/day and 0.44 L/m(2)/day, respectively. The cost analysis revealed that produced water costs $0.18/kg for glass and $0.40/kg for acrylic, respectively. Atmospheric water could be harvested using SPAWH in the tropics, which would help to provide new opportunities for sustainable water supplies and development in these regions.
Keywords
Water generation, Atmospheric water harvesting, Desiccant materials, Solar still, Tropics
Divisions
Architecture
Funders
None
Publication Title
Energies
Volume
15
Issue
9
Publisher
MDPI
Publisher Location
ST ALBAN-ANLAGE 66, CH-4052 BASEL, SWITZERLAND