Energy and mass balances in multiple-effect upward solar distillers with air flow through the last-effect unit

Considerable improvement in productivity may be obtained if water vapor in the last-effect unit is carried away directly by flowing air. The theory of a closed-type upward multiple-effect solar distiller has been modified to that of an open-type device, and the energy and mass balances have been der ived. The production rate of distilled water for each effect under various climate, design, and operational conditions may be predicted by simultaneou sly solving the appropriate equations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All r ights reserved.