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An Experimental Study on Small Scale Sea Water Desalination Unit Through Solar Power in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

M. M. Islam
Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331 Bangladesh

S. A. Uddin
Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331 Bangladesh

Z. Islam
Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331 Bangladesh

M. I. Hossain
Department of Fisheries, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An experimental small scale desalination system where solar energy as the main heat source was conducted in a remote area of Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh. In this investigation, the performance of three solar stills with transparent glass cover was studied. Treated sea water was given to the solar still and the quantity of distilled water from three solar stills was measured per day and the effectiveness of the stills was compared. The performance of these stills was checked for 20 days. The different parameters i.e. ambient temperature, Salinity, pH, Unionized NH₃, Iron, NO₂-N, Chlorine, DO and amount of distilled water were studied and analyzed. The average amount of water produced by the still (1) was 455 ml, still (2) was 394.75ml and still (3) was 339.25 ml. The total amount of water produced by the still (1) was 9100 ml, still (2) was 7895 ml and still (3) was 6785 ml. The average desalinated water were obtained 1.06 liter/m²/day, 0.98 liter/ m²/day and 0.95 liter/ m²/day from still 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

Keywords: Water desalination, Drinking water, Solar power, Solar still

Location: Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, University of Chittagong and Khuruskul of Cox’s Bazar district

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Commodity: Water quality

Objectives:

To develop locally constructed solar water desalination units and to guarantee the availability of safe drinking water to the rural population in the coastal area of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The present investigation was carried out in the Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, University of Chittagong and Khuruskul of Cox’s Bazar district. Desalination techniques are applied to water from a wide variety of sources. In addition to seawater, desalination can be applied to brackish water, river water, wastewater, and even treated water from municipal supplies. For the present investigation, 3 experimental seawater desalination plants powered by solar energy were designed, constructed and tested. The principal criteria for selection of materials and development of design of a solar still were the availability of materials, costs involved, efficiency and ease of construction and maintenance. In phase I of the study, stainless steel was used to construct the solar stills. Because stainless still becomes hot quickly by solar energy in open area and is durable due to iron dust. In phase II, productivity of the systems was investigated. Two important factors having great effects on the productivity of the solar stills are water depth in the basin and the inclination angle of the glass cover. The main intend of this study was to thoroughly explain the thermal processes occurring in the system, to investigate the effects of water depth and the inclination angle of the glass cover on the productivity of the system and to evaluate the total productivity of the system under the normal climatic condition. Solar still: In this research work, three solar stills were used. The solar desalination still consists of a reservoir and covered with a glass. The stainless steel sheet was used for the base of solar distillation still and rubber seals were used as insulation. The thermometers were attached to the base to note the temperature of the base and inner space. The glass sheet was used as a cover (tent type) of the solar still’s base. The whole system was placed over an angle position in face of the sun. The average cost of the solar still was BDT 2,850.00. The working process of solar still was very simple. The filtered seawater was placed inside the stills. These stills were facing the sun with different angle of glass cover and their positions were fixed. Solar radiation passed through transparent glass covers and heat was absorbed by the surface of the stainless stills. These radiations raised the temperature, the water got hot and was evaporated to vapour in the air above the surface. Density of the air reduced due to increase in temperature and caused it to circulate upwards. As a result, the vapour pressure of enclosed air increased and the vapours make contact with the inner surface of the glass cover and relatively cool transparent cover. The liquid condensed, flowed into the base of the cover and finally through the outlets into the container. The distilled water from 3 stills were measured to check the best efficiency of the solar still. The data were recorded for 20 days from 8:00 a.m to 4: 00 p.m

Source of Information: J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 11(1): 165–170, 2013 ISSN 1810-3030

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The average amount of water produced by the still (1) was 455 ml, still (2) was 394.75ml and still (3) was 339.25 ml. The total amount of water produced by the still (1) was 9100 ml, still (2) was 7895 ml and still (3) was 6785 ml. The average desalinated water were obtained 1.06 liter/m²^/day, 0.98 liter/ m²/day and 0.95 liter/ m²/day from still 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

Knowledge Management: Journal