Al-Tajer, Ammar M. , Alawee, Wissam H. , Dhahad, Hayder A. , Hammoodi, Karrar A. , Omara, Z. M.
2025-10-01 JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY 2025 150(卷), 20(期), (16735-16752页)
A novel hybrid freshwater production system combining atmospheric water generation and a pyramidal solar still was developed to address potable water scarcity in remote areas by leveraging the waste heat from a thermoelectric cooling unit used to condense ambient air, redirecting that heat to the solar still to boost evaporation while the cooled air stream lowers the still's glass temperature to enhance condensation. Field experiments in Karbala, Iraq, under both humid vegetation and arid desert conditions, demonstrated that precise automated control of the multi-source system is essential to accommodate dynamic weather conditions and ensure experimental accuracy. Doubling the thermoelectric cooling power from 330 to 660 W reduced the average glass temperature by 28%. In desert conditions, the hybrid setup improved cumulative water yield by 34% at 330 W and 69% at 660 W compared with the conventional still, while in humid settings, yield gains reached 44% (330 W) and 79% (660 W). Production costs ranged from 0.23$ L(-)1 in arid zones to 0.16$ L(-)1 in humid zones, 9-12% reduction attributable to higher ambient humidity. These results demonstrate the hybrid system's potential for sustainable, cost-effective freshwater production and highlight the need for further analytical studies to optimize design and fully exploit available thermal energy under varying operational and environmental conditions.