Structure Design and Parameter Computation of a Seawater Desalination System with Vertical Axis Wind Turbine.

This paper proposes a method to firstly convert wind energy into thermal energy by a vertical axis wind turbine and then use thermal energy to evaporate seawater for fresh water generation. The working principle and structure characteristics of the S type vertical axis wind turbine,liquid-stirring heater and seawater evaporation chamber are described. Mathematical calculation of bucket diameter and other parameters of the liquid-stirring heater are carried out according to the driving torque of wind turbine. Evaporating chamber capacity for seawater desalination is determined according to the liquid-stirring heater. These calculation models are introduced including power, torque, tip speed ratio, height and diameter of wind turbine; power, torque, rotating speed, blades diameter and other structural parameters of liquid-stirring heater; diameter, height of evaporator chamber. Generated fresh water from the seawater desalination system under rated wind speed is estimated at 239.1 g/h, which verify the feasibility of this kind of wind-powered seawater desalination method.