TY - JOUR
TI - Prototype and model of solar driven desalination plant in arid environment
AU - Unami Koichi
AU - Mohawesh Osama
AU - Fujihara Masayuki
JN - Thermal Science
PY - 2020
VL - 24
IS - 2
SP - 903
EP - 914
PT - Article
AB - Water shortage and salinity are crucial factors affecting plant growth in  arid and semi-arid regions, where irrigation water shortage and capillary  rise from shallow saline water tables are often encountered. The objectives  of this study are to construct a prototype of solar driven desalination  plant in an arid area of Jordan Rift Valley, to develop a mathematical model  predicting thermal dynamics in the prototype, to calibrate model parameters  with measured physical parameters, and to discuss the performance of the  prototype as well as its applicability to other areas under different  environment. Results of measurement and numerical simulation show that the  model is capable to reproduce the thermal dynamics of the desalination plant  and to predict dew yield. Overall, the developed model provides a sound  basis for describing and explaining the mass and energy balance mechanisms  in the developed desalination plant. This study offers also a useful tool  for analysis and assessment of the dew yield and thermal dynamics of such a  desalination plant in general. Using the constructed prototype, performance  analysis based on crop cultivation is ongoing.