Solar-assisted ethanol still. Final technical report

Technical Report · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5791946

Pegg, R J

The Solar American Company, Inc. has successfully adapted a vapor compression solar-assisted heating system to the distillation of ethanol. The system is a hybrid heat pump/solar collector combination in which solar collectors replace the outside air heat exchanger found in conventional air-to-air heat pump systems. The solar panels ordinarily operate at or below ambient temperature thus eliminating the need to install the collector panels in a glazed and insulated enclosure. Solar energy absorbed by exposed panels directly vaporizes the refrigerant fluid. The resulting vapor is compressed to a higher temperature and pressure; then, it is condensed to release the heat absorbed during the vaporization process in a still under vacuum conditions. In the absence of solar input, the panel temperature will drop, and significant amounts of energy will be extracted from the ambient air by convection, radiation, and consensation of moisture. The experimental program which resulted in the fabrication and successful operation of a solar-assisted vapor compression ethanol heater is outlined.

• Research Organization: Solar American Co., Inc., Newport News, VA
• DOE Contract Number: FG43-81R308098
• OSTI ID: 5791946
• Report Number(s): DOE/R3/08098-T1; ON: DE85009381
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140909* -- Solar Thermal Utilization-- Miscellaneous Solar Applications-- (1980-)
ALCOHOLS
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
ETHANOL
EVAPORATORS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SOLAR DISTILLATION
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR STILLS
TESTING