A New Method Of Controlling Inlet Water Flow Rate In Solar Energy Water Distillation
FA. Rusdi Sambada(a*), I Gusti Ketut Puja (a)

a) Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sanata Dharma University Campus III Paingan Maguwoharjo Depok Sleman Yogyakarta Indonesia 55282
*sambada[at]usd.ac.id

Abstract

Only some water can evaporate in the distillation process using wick-type solar energy. The more water that does not evaporate, the lower the distillation efficiency. A faucet generally uses for controls the inlet water flow rate. However, the faucet causes a significant flow rate. The greater the inlet water flow rate, the more water does not evaporate. This study examines a new method of controlling the flow rate of inlet water in wick-type solar energy water distillation using the principle of communicating vessels. The research was carried out experimentally in the laboratory using six infrared lamps as solar energy simulators. The distillation model used was 0.5 m2 in size and 3 mm thick cover glass. The inlet water flow rate was varied by 3.6, 4.8 and 7.7 litres/hour. The results showed that the inlet water flow method using the communicating vessels principle could increase the efficiency of solar energy water distillation compared to controlling the flow rate of distillation inlet water using a faucet. The highest efficiency increase of 61 per cent was obtained at a variation of the inlet water flow rate of 4.8 litres/hour. The method of controlling incoming water flow rate using the principle of communicating vessels can be used to increase the production of distilled water to meet the need for potable water from contaminated water, especially for people in remote areas.

Keywords: inlet water- flow rate- efficiency- communicating vessels

Topic: Engineering