Design and experimental evaluation of an advanced solar evaporator pilot plant during the summer season

• A pilot plant with four evaporation prototypes was constructed and tested. • An experimental assessment is provided for a novel solar evaporation technology. • The evaporation capacity of ASE prototypes varies depending on the cover material. • A continuous air renewal in ASE showed an enhancement with respect to the open pond. The industrial sector generates significant volumes of wastewater during specific processes, necessitating the treatment of resulting by-products. Conventional disposal methods typically involve open evaporation ponds. However, these ponds present environmental challenges such as land occupation and soil contamination, while their reliance on weather conditions for evaporation rates remains uncontrollable. To address these issues, this study presents the design, construction, and experimental evaluation of an innovative evaporation pond called the advanced solar evaporator. This system features a closed pond with a transparent cover and forced ventilation. A pilot plant with these characteristics was established in La Puebla de Cazalla (Spain), where various cover materials and air renewal strategies were assessed to determine the technology’s potential. Results indicate that glass outperformed polycarbonate as a cover material under the same operational conditions, achieving up to a 26% increase in evaporation. Given the hot and arid climate of the pilot plant location, continuous fan operation became a key factor to align with the evaporation rates seen in open ponds. With uninterrupted air circulation, the pond featuring a glass cover showcased a remarkable 3% increase in evaporation compared to the open pond, even in the face of highly favourable weather conditions for the latter.