KMITL Expo 2026 LogoKMITL 66th Anniversary Logo

Water Desalination Using Thermal Energy from an Evacuated Tube Solar Collector

Water Desalination Using Thermal Energy from an Evacuated Tube Solar Collector

Abstract

Freshwater scarcity is a global crisis due to limited accessible freshwater resources and rising demand. Seawater desalination is a key solution but is energy-intensive and reliant on fossil fuels, leading to high costs and environmental impacts. This study aims to investigate the use of solar thermal energy from an evacuated tube collector for freshwater production via evaporation and condensation. The focus is on analyzing system efficiency by comparing freshwater yield with energy input. The findings may contribute to the development of sustainable desalination technologies suitable for freshwater-scarce regions.

Objective

ปัจจุบันโลกปกคลุมด้วยน้ำถึง 70% ของพื้นที่ทั้งหมด แต่มีทรัพยากรน้ำที่เป็นน้ำจืด (fresh water) ที่สามารถใช้อุปโภค บริโภคได้เพียง 3% ประกอบกับจำนวนประชากรที่เพิ่มสูงขึ้นอย่างต่อเนื่อง จึงเกิดวิกฤตการขาดแคลนน้ำ การแยกเกลือออกจากน้ำทะเลเป็นแนวทางสำคัญในการแก้ไขปัญหานี้ โดยงานวิจัยของเรามุ่งพัฒนาเทคโนโลยีแยกเกลือออกจากน้ำทะเลโดยใช้พลังงานแสงอาทิตย์ ผ่านระบบท่อสุญญากาศ (ETSC) เพื่อลดต้นทุน พึ่งพาพลังงานสะอาด และเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพการผลิตน้ำจืด โดยเฉพาะในพื้นที่แห้งแล้งที่ขาดแคลนน้ำ

Other Innovations

Tree Planting Application for Dormitories

คณะเทคโนโลยีการเกษตร

Tree Planting Application for Dormitories

This project involves the development of a plant care system for dormitories using IoT (Internet of Things). The system is implemented through programming on an ESP-32 board and controlled via sensors for automated watering. The commands are operated through smartphones, supporting both iOS and Android. It is expected that this project will make plant care in dormitories easier and more convenient.

Read more
Development of Mango Powder using the Foam-mat Method with Hydroxypropyl Methyl cellulose is a foaming agent

คณะอุตสาหกรรมอาหาร

Development of Mango Powder using the Foam-mat Method with Hydroxypropyl Methyl cellulose is a foaming agent

This research focuses on the development of mango powder using the foam-mat drying method, which is an effective technique for preserving the quality of fruit and vegetable products. Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) was used as a foaming agent. The study evaluated the effects of HPMC on the chemical and physical properties, antioxidant activity, and shelf life of mango powder. The findings indicated that HPMC plays a crucial role in improving the foam stability before drying and enhancing the quality of the dried powder. This research provides a valuable approach to adding value to substandard mango yields and reducing agricultural waste. It also contributes to the development of high-nutritional processed food products with extended shelf life.

Read more
Development of Carbon Nanofiber Composite Materials for Supercapacitors in Energy Storage

วิทยาลัยการจัดการนวัตกรรมและอุตสาหกรรม

Development of Carbon Nanofiber Composite Materials for Supercapacitors in Energy Storage

This study presents the development of carbon-based multiphase metal oxide nanocomposites (CNF@MOx; M = Ag, Mn, Bi, Fe) incorporating silver, manganese, bismuth, and iron nanoparticles within polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-derived carbon nanofibers. These nanocomposites were fabricated via the electrospinning technique followed by annealing in an argon atmosphere. The resulting nanofibers exhibited a uniform structure, with diameters ranging from 559 to 830 nm and embedded nanoparticles of 9-21 nm. Structural characterization confirmed the presence of various oxidation states of metal oxides, which play a crucial role in charge storage mechanisms. Electrochemical performance testing demonstrated that CNF@Ag/Mn/Bi/Fe-20 achieved the highest specific capacitance of 156 F g⁻¹ at a scan rate of 2 mV s⁻¹ and exhibited excellent cycling stability, retaining over 96% of its capacitance after 1400 charge-discharge cycles. The synergistic combination of electric double-layer capacitance and redox-based charge storage enhances the performance of these nanofibers as promising electrode materials for supercapacitor applications.

Read more