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Performance analysis of a novel solar cogeneration system for generating potable water and electricity

Subbarama Kousik Suraparaju (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Vasavi Engineering College, Tadepalligudem, India)
Arjun Singh K. (Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Puducherry, Karaikal, India)
Vijesh Jayan (School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore)
Sendhil Kumar Natarajan (Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Puducherry, Karaikal, India)

World Journal of Engineering

ISSN: 1708-5284

Article publication date: 30 December 2022

Issue publication date: 23 February 2024

78

Abstract

Purpose

The utilisation of renewable energy sources for generating electricity and potable water is one of the most sustainable approaches in the current scenario. Therefore, the current research aims to design and develop a novel co-generation system to address the electricity and potable water needs of rural areas.

Design/methodology/approach

The cogeneration system mainly consists of a solar parabolic dish concentrator (SPDC) system with a concentrated photo-voltaic module at the receiver for electricity generation. It is further integrated with a low-temperature thermal desalination (LTTD) system for generating potable water. Also, a novel corn cob filtration system is introduced for the pre-treatment to reduce the salt content in seawater before circulating it into the receiver of the SPDC system. The designed novel co-generation system has been numerically and experimentally tested to analyse the performance at Karaikal, U.T. of Puducherry, India.

Findings

Because of the pre-treatment with a corn cob, the scale formation in the pipes of the SPDC system is significantly reduced, which enhances the efficiency of the system. It is observed that the conductivity, pH and TDS of seawater are reduced significantly after the pre-treatment by the corncob filtration system. Also, the integrated system is capable of generating 6–8 litres of potable water per day.

Originality/value

The integration of the corncob filtration system reduced the scaling formation compared to the general circulation of water in the hoses. Also, the integrated SPDC and LTTD systems are comparatively economical to generate higher yields of clean water than solar stills.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Declaration: The authors declare that they have no potential conflicts of interest.

Citation

Suraparaju, S.K., K., A.S., Jayan, V. and Natarajan, S.K. (2024), "Performance analysis of a novel solar cogeneration system for generating potable water and electricity", World Journal of Engineering, Vol. 21 No. 2, pp. 323-342. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJE-05-2022-0185

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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