THEORETICAL APPROACH FOR USING SOLAR STILL TO PROVIDE PLANT WATER REQUIREMENT

Abdel-Rahman, G. M.

doi:10.21608/mjae.2009.109763

THEORETICAL APPROACH FOR USING SOLAR STILL TO PROVIDE PLANT WATER REQUIREMENT

Document Type : Original Article

Author

G. M. Abdel-Rahman

Associate prof., Ag. Eng. Dept., Fac. of Ag., Cairo Univ., Cairo, Egypt.

10.21608/mjae.2009.109763

Abstract

The aim of this research work is to introduce an un- conventional approach to provide fresh water directly from sea water and use it to cover plant water requirements. It comprises theoretical equations to estimate Distilled Water Productivities (DWP) of solar still unit from sea water. On the other hand, another series of equations are used to estimate plant water loss just through transpiration rate. The study was based on six months meteorological data in Jeddah, KSA, from July to December to calculate DWP and plant transpiration rate along this period. These data shown that the maximum value recorded for solar intensity was 825 W/m², and the corresponding air temperature was 40.7 ^oC. The results shown maximum solar still DWP and the corresponding transpiration rate accomplished in September, they were 3196 and 2234 g/m² respectively. Meanwhile, the minimum solar still DWP and the corresponding transpiration rate accomplished in September were 1910 and 1254 g/m² respectively. Consequently, the obtained results show a possibility to introduce solar still DWP as an un-conventional tool to save plant water requirements terminating traditional irrigation water loss. Therefore, considering the natural sources potential (abundance of solar incidence, very long beaches on seas, gulfs and oceans over Arab World), all support such un-conventional approach for sustainable development programs.

Main Subjects

Biosystems Engineering

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