Fresh water distillation used for optimization of solar power, heating & cooling system

Renewable energies are gaining an increasing role in the world energy scenario. The “energy problem” answer will compulsorily include solar energy exploitation: solar thermal systems, due to their wide dissemination and gratuity of energy source, combined with a clever use of waste heat is a strong solution to the problem that allows energy sustainability, as environmental impact reduction and rational use of energy sources. In the present research, we propose a system supplied by renewable energies for the production of electric, thermal and cooling power as well as fresh water. The main problem linked to the renewable energy use , in particular solar energy, is the high time dependence and variability of the energy source. Many energy storage systems have been suggested, but they are usually expensive and not much efficient. The solution to this problem can be the replacement of this stage with a desalination system in order to capitalize the last thermal cascade. The efficient energy use requires its utilization in cascade mode similarly to the CHP systems. The proposed system is focused to the implementation of high tech and high efficient solar system for residential applications, where a significant primary energy is required. This system is made up by a solar field with special PTC collectors developed for residential contexts and roof installations. From the energy point of view, all the components were installed in cascade, with the solar field supplying directly a small-micro ORC machine (power), a H2O-LiBr or NH3-H2O chiller is coupled in cascade to the ORC rejection. A diffusion multiple-effect still system will be supplied with heat discarded by the plant system. Each system component and device was modeled and tested separately in our laboratory to evaluate its thermo-physical and energy performances. The original feature of our research is provided by the complete autonomy of the system totally based on the use of renewable energies, small sized and addressed to urban and/or residential applications. The plant is also suitable and interesting for OFF-GRID applications and such feature, linked to small size systems and to the water desalination, will open to huge potential markets where a lacking of fresh water is usually joined with large solar radiation availability.