Research

Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences

Title :

Experimental Investigation on Tower Type Hybrid Vapour Compression Refrigeration (VCR) and Humidification-Dehumidification (HDH) Desalination Plant

Area of research :

Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences

Focus area :

Energy conversion

Principal Investigator :

Dr Tangellapalli Srinivas, Associate Professor, Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT) Jalandhar

Timeline Start Year :

2019

Contact info :

Details

Executive Summary :

HDH desalination is relatively a new technology compared to the other desalination methods. HDH is a mimicked natural water cycle. The research progress is significant from the end of the 20th century. From the beginning of 21st century, many novel versions of HDH desalination are inventing. This technology has potential market to meet the water demand at the domestic and industrial level. The simple design and operation at atmospheric pressure are attracting the manufacturers, design engineers, inventors etc. towards the HDH technology. The grid independent vapour compression refrigeration (VCR) heat exchangers assisted hybrid desalination offers maintenance free system as the electricity cost will be covered by the solar PV plant. The initial investment, erection and salaries are the main cost involved in the commercial implementation of the work. At the domestic level, fresh water and air conditioning needs are increasing. The current work is targeted to meet the daily needs of 1 TR of cooling and 100 liters per day of drinking water from the raw water. The main objectives of the proposed work are demonstration of the hybrid plant for fresh water and cooling, increasing the water production rate from the brackish water and optimization of combined output of water and cooling. The once through duct design for the two stage operation facilitates the easy flow of air with a minimum pumping power and resistance. The novelty of the proposed HDH-VCR plant is as follows: Use of VCR system for heat pump operation (air preheating) and refrigeration (dehumidification) boosts the overall energy conversion. The two stage operation of desalination with normal water in first stage and VCR’ evaporator in the second stage results higher desalination compared to the conventional or existing operation of HDH.

Co-PI:

Dr Rajeev Kukreja, Associate Professor, Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT) Jalandhar

Total Budget (INR):

15,19,672

Achievements :

The design of the once through hybrid humidification dehumidification and vapour compression refrigeration (HDH-VCR) plant has been streamlined to minimize the pressure drop with the industrial feedback. The photo has been attached. The MoU with the two industrial partners has been completed. The signed copies of the MoU documents (scaned) are forwarded through the mail.

Publications :

 
1

Organizations involved