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Simulation of a novel combined water purification and electricity generation system
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2023
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| _version_ | 1867613942653648896 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Reed, Michael |
| author2 | Owen, Michael |
| author_browse | Owen, Michael Reed, Michael |
| author_facet | Owen, Michael Reed, Michael |
| author_sort | Reed, Michael |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/127383 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:09.875Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/127383 Simulation of a novel combined water purification and electricity generation system Reed, Michael Owen, Michael Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Solar thermal energy Heat-engines Water -- Purification Drinking water -- Purification Saline water conversion UCTD Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. ENGLISH SUMMARY: Many communities worldwide cannot access safely managed drinking water and energy services, and novel solutions are required to provide access to such services. A combined solar powered water desalination and energy production system is proposed as a potential solution for small-scale decentralised applications in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This project aims to assist with the proof of concept by developing a numerical model of a pilot system. The system comprises an indirect compound parabolic concentrating solar thermal collector loop, which provides heat to a helical coil boiler where steam is produced from contaminated water at near atmospheric pressure. The steam is expanded in a steam expansion engine to produce mechanical work, which can be used directly for pumping or converted to electricity. Vapour leaving the engine is condensed, and the distilled water is collected for later use. In this project, a numerical model is developed in Flownex SE to analyse the system’s steady-state operating performance and dynamic response. Fully transient simulations are conducted for summer and winter days, and a pseudo-transient annual simulation is conducted using solar resources and meteorological data for Stellenboch (South Africa). The results from this study are used to assess the technical viability of the proposed concept through interrogation of the clean water and work outputs and the water specific energy consumption (SEC) relative to other technologies. On a sunny summer’s day with solar insolation of 6.14kWh/m2, the model predicts that the system will provide 1.08kWh of mechanical energy and 68.6 litres of distillate at a coil-to-water specific energy consumption of 725.1kWh/m3. Annually, the system is expected to produce 17 706 litres and 287.2kWh of distillate and mechanical energy for the considered location (with annual solar insolation of 2191kWh/m2). The annual average thermal efficiency of the engine is estimated to be 2.1%. The system is not deemed technically feasible due to its high SEC and low production capacity relative to alternatives such as photovoltaic reverse osmosis. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Baie gemeenskappe wereldwyd het nie toegang tot veilige drinkwater en energie dienste nie. Nuwe oplossings word vereis om toegang tot sulke dienste te verskaf. ’n Gekombineerde sonkrag-aangedrewe watersuiwering en energie produksie stelsel word voorgestel as ’n potensiele oplossing vir kleinskaalse gedesentraliseerde toepassings ter ondersteuning van die Verenigde Nasies se Volhoubare Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte. Hierdie projek het gemik om te help met die bewys van konsep van die stelsel deur ’n numeriese model te ontwikkel. Die stelsel bestaan uit ’n indirekte saamgestelde paraboliese konsentrerende son-termiese kollektorlus, wat hitte verskaf aan ’n heliese spoelketel waar stoom geproduseer word uit besoedelde water teen naby atmosferiese druk. Die stoom word in ’n stoomenjin uitgebrei om meganiese werk te produseer, wat direk gebruik kan word of na elektrisiteit omgeskakel kan word. Waterdamp wat die enjin verlaat word gekondenseer, en die gedistilleerde water word opgevang vir latere gebruik. In hierdie projek word ’n numeriese model in Flownex SE ontwikkel om die bestendige-toestand bedryfsprestasie en dinamiese reaksie van die stelsel te ontleed. Volledig tydafhanklike simulasies word vir somer en winterdae uitgevoer, en ’n pseudo-tydafhanklik jaarlikse simulasie word uitgevoer deur sonkragbronne en meteorologiese data vir Stellenbosch (Suid-Afrika) te gebruik. Die resultate van hierdie studie word gebruik om die tegniese lewensvatbaarheid van die voorgestelde konsep te assesseer deur ondervraging van die skoon water en werksuitsette en die waterspesifieke energieverbruik relatief tot ander tegnologiee. Op ’n sonnige somersdag met sonkrag insolasie van 6.14kWh/m2, voorspel die model dat die stelsel 1.08kWh meganiese energie en 68.6 liter distillaat produseer teen ’n spoel-tot-water spesifieke energie verbruik van 725.1kWh/m3. Daar word verwag dat die stelsel jaarliks 17 706 liter distillaat en 287.2kWh meganiese energiesal produseer (met jaarlikse soninsolasie van 2191kWh/m2). Die jaarlikse gemiddelde termiese doeltreffendheid van die enjin word geskat op 2.1%. Die stelsel word nie as tegnies uitvoerbaar beskou nie as gevolg van sy hoe spesifieke energie verbruik en lae produksie kapasiteit relatief tot alternatiewe soos fotovoltaiese tru-osmose. Masters 2023-03-02T10:14:37Z 2023-05-18T07:19:20Z 2023-03-02T10:14:37Z 2023-05-18T07:19:20Z 2023-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/127383 en_ZA Stellenbosch University xv, 111 pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Solar thermal energy Heat-engines Water -- Purification Drinking water -- Purification Saline water conversion UCTD Reed, Michael Simulation of a novel combined water purification and electricity generation system |
| title | Simulation of a novel combined water purification and electricity generation system |
| title_full | Simulation of a novel combined water purification and electricity generation system |
| title_fullStr | Simulation of a novel combined water purification and electricity generation system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simulation of a novel combined water purification and electricity generation system |
| title_short | Simulation of a novel combined water purification and electricity generation system |
| title_sort | simulation of a novel combined water purification and electricity generation system |
| topic | Solar thermal energy Heat-engines Water -- Purification Drinking water -- Purification Saline water conversion UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/127383 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT reedmichael simulationofanovelcombinedwaterpurificationandelectricitygenerationsystem |