Energetic analysis of freshwater production from sea water by vacuum distillation with solar energy support

It is necessary to find new solutions to experience the need for clean water, which has become the problem of the whole world today. One of these solutions is to obtain fresh water from sea water. Our country, which is covered by sea on three sides, is in a very lucky position in terms of using solar energy, which is one of the renewable energy sources, both in this respect and considering the energy required for these systems. In this study, the theoretical analysis of obtaining fresh water from sea water using the solar energy assisted vacuum distillation method has been made. For this analysis, sea water was evaporated and desalinated in the heat exchanger under vacuum with the energy obtained from solar collectors, and then fresh water was obtained by seawater cooling in the condenser. It is thought that the energy need for the system is also provided by PV panels using solar energy. The amounts of fresh water produced under different pressures were calculated and compared. A comparison was made by calculating the amount of water to be produced from the system under vacuum and at atmospheric pressure, and the advantages and disadvantages of producing under vacuum were evaluated. The cost analysis of the system was also made and the cubic meter price of the water to be produced was determined. In this study, the climatic conditions of the province of Izmir and the values of the Aegean Sea were used. Values such as solar energy tables, sunshine duration and sea water temperature were obtained from the General Directorate of Meteorology. As a result of the study, the amount of water obtained under 100, 30, 20, 10 and 5 kPa pressure, the energy need of the system was calculated and the cost analysis was made and the m3 water cost was calculated. As a result of the calculations, the highest water production was obtained under 5 kPa pressure and the cost of 1 m3 water was calculated as 19.50₺.