Desenvolvimento de um novo protótipo de dessalinizador térmico com recuperação de calor acionado por fonte controlada de energia elétrica.

Abstract

Solar thermal desalination plants operate with variable heat source, solar radiation, which complicates the identification of the influence of process variables and of the constructive geometric parameters. In operation, brackish or salt water is heated in a storage tank, where it evaporates and condenses on the walls of a lower metal tray (first stage) installed above the tank. By condensing, the steam transfers heat to the salt water of this first stage and the condensate is collected on the outside of the tank. This work aims to develop a new prototype desalination unit with thermal controllable operating parameters for operation in transient and steady states. In the prototype, the heating of the water to be desalinated is done by electrical resistance with controllable source, allowing the variation of the desired heating power. Sensors of the type PT-100 were installed, especially specified for the dimensions of the storage tank for measuring water temperature at different positions in the tank. The mass of water in the tank is measured by a precision balance. With the measurements, graphics of water temperature of the tank during the heating, the cooling and the steady state were constructed. Also, the Global Coefficient of Heat Transfer was measured for phases of heating, cooling and steady state. Finally, desalination was found by the electrical conductivity of the used water.