Experimental study of distiller with heat pipe utilizing waste heat from a portable electric generator

A seawater distiller utilizing the thermal energy of waste gas from a portable electric generator by means of heat pipe was constructed and tested with actual waste gas from a small portable electric generator. The distiller tested is a vertical single-effect diffusion still, whose structure is equivalent to the first distilling cell of a vertical multiple-effect diffusion still, consisting of a series of closely spaced parallel partitions in contact with saline-soaked wicks. Evaporation and condensation processes were repeated on all partitions by recycling thermal energy to increase the distillate productivity in the still. All of the experiments were performed in steady-state conditions. Experimental results for the distillate productivity are in good agreement with theoretical predictions, and show that 40 to 50% of thermal energy of waste gas can be transported by heat pipe and about 35% of thermal energy of waste gas can be utilized for the distillation of saline water.

► Distiller utilizing waste heat from a portable electric generator was tested.
► Waste gas temperature and the distillate productivity were saturated by 90 min.
► 35% of thermal energy of the waste gas can be used for distillation.
► The proposed multiple-effect still produces 200–500 g/h drinking water.