Simulation and Analysis of Contactless Solar Evaporation

doi:10.16183/j.cnki.jsjtu.2021.255

Abstract

Abstract:

Zero-liquid discharge is an efficient pathway for high concentration brine and wastewater treatment. Contactless solar evaporation is a new configuration proposed in recent years towards this target, which has the advantages of solar energy utilization, simple structure, passive operation, and anti-fouling. Considering that contactless solar evaporation lacks an effective predictive model to guide the optimization in real scenarios, a steady-state thermal resistance network model is developed for the first time and further analyses are conducted. According to the results, two main heat sources of the water, radiative heat transfer and air gap heat transfer, contribute 54.2% and 45.8% to the total heat flow and both have a significant impact on the evaporation performance. The larger air gap thickness has a negative effect on both of the two heat transfer processes. The evaporation rate with an air gap thickness of 10 mm is only 70% of that with an air gap thickness of 4 mm. Additionally, decreasing vapor diffusion resistance is an efficient way to increase the evaporation rate. The evaporation rate triples when the vapor diffusion coefficient increases from 5×10^-6 m²/s to 2.5×10^-5 m²/s.

Key words: solar energy, wastewater, diffusion, contactless evaporation, thermal resistance network

CLC Number:

YU Jie, XU Zhenyuan. Simulation and Analysis of Contactless Solar Evaporation[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2023, 57(1): 66-75.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig.1

Fig.2

Tab.1

Fig.3

Fig.4

Fig.5

Tab.2

Definitions and derivations of components in equivalent thermal resistance network

组件名称	含义	计算方法	组件名称	含义	计算方法
R₁	顶部非辐射热损失热阻	COMSOL软件模拟拟合计算	T_amb	环境温度	固定值25 ℃
R₂	吸收-发射器导热热阻	R₂= $δ e k e A w$	C₁	吸收-发射器热容	C₁=c₁m₁
R₃	垫片导热热阻	R₃= $δ s k s A s$	水蒸发模块	模拟水蒸发过程	自定义编程
R₄	发射器-水体辐射传热热阻	Q_rad=FσA_w( $T e 4$ - $T w 4$ )	模拟控制器1	模拟太阳能输入信号	固定值1 000 W/m²
R₅	空气层导热热阻	R₅= $b k v A w$	模拟控制器2	顶部热阻辅助热源信号	固定值-98.796 W/m²
R₆	底部水体及水箱热损失热阻	COMSOL软件模拟拟合计算	Q_abs1	模拟太阳能热源	固定值1 000 W/m²
T_e	吸收-发射器温度	待求解量	Q_abs2	顶部热阻辅助热源	固定值-98.796 W/m²
T_w	表层水温度	待求解量	求解器	常微分方程求解器	Simulink内置ode23t算法

Tab.2

Fig.6

Fig.7

Fig.8

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参数与材料	取值与种类
吸收-发射器边长a/mm	40
空气层厚度b/mm	4、6、8、10
水容器侧壁及底壁厚度d/mm	20
水体高度h/mm	50
水体横截面边长L/mm	35
垫片横截面宽度δ_s/mm	2.5
吸收-发射器厚度δ_e/mm	1
对流盖板厚度δ_c/mm	1
对流盖板材料	空气
吸收-发射器材料	铝
垫片材料	聚四氟乙烯
水箱材料	亚克力
吸收器辐射热损失占份额/%	5
对流盖板、吸收-发射器、垫片侧壁属性	绝热
水箱侧壁发射率ε	0.95
发射器-水体辐射换热角系数(4 mm空气层)F	0.85