EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF A SOLAR STILL ACTIVED BY A HEAT PUMP

This work concerns a second prototype of solar still combined with a heat pump HP. It is characterized by having separated, by a partition, the steam generator compartment of the HP from the compartment evaporator (where the condensate is collected).

The results of the test measures concern three configurations with HP according to whether the distiller is fixed to the south or to the contrary constantly oriented to the sun and as it is placed in the sun (outside) or inside (no sun). The measurements concerning the water temperatures at the condenser, the wet and ambient air, and the relative humidity. The distillate flow is also measured and the energy efficiency and the COP of the HP are evaluated. When the effects of the sun and cap combine to heat the water and then distilling it, we see that the sun contributes to 2/3 due to the HP and the remaining 1/3. In the sun, the warm-up and therefore the evaporation of water are higher than simply heating the condenser of the HP, which leads to a greater flow of distillate