Search

Because textile industries are intensely water-consuming and generate a huge quantity of wastewater, the present study examines the scope of using solar thermal technology to treat wastewater from textile industries. A hybrid technology, comprising a compound parabolic concentrator-based solar thermal system in conjunction with a Membrane Distillation (MD) system, is experimented with for wastewater treatment in textile industries. The MD system requires a water temperature of around 90 °C for efficient functioning. The advanced MD technology using waste heat combined with solar heat to meet the system's thermal load is technologically evaluated for an experimental textile industry in India. Moreover, the present study critically analyses the techno economics of the proposed hybrid technology. A detailed financial analysis has revealed that, besides technological superiority, the recommended technology is also financially rewarding for wastewater treatment in the textile industry. To cope with the delayed payback period, financial incentives are recommended so that the system becomes a lucrative technological option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the potential of solar thermal systems for being employed for process heating in cotton-based textile industries. The technological capability of a flat plate collector (FPC) to meet the solar industrial process heating (SIPH) requirement in yarn production is assessed. Moreover, the usability of a parabolic trough collector (PTC) in meeting the technological mandates of SIPH in fabric processing units is critically examined. Further, this paper reports the findings of a study on the potential cost advantage of solar process heating over the conventional process heating practices in cotton-based textile industries. The approach involves the selection of the locations of sample textile industries and the employable solar collector technologies, as well as assessment of financial reward, if any. Eight different cotton-based textile industries located in different geographical domains (in India) are selected. The selected textile industries are situated within the textile hubs existing in different states across India. Analysis of technoeconomic benefit derivable in selected textile industries using FPC for hot water generation and PTC for steam generation is presented. In the case of FPC-based SIPH systems, the maximum value of solar fraction is estimated to be 0.30 and the corresponding estimation for the levelized cost of useful thermal energy (LCUTE) delivered comes out as INR 790/GJ to INR 1020/GJ. On the other hand, in case of parabolic-trough-solar-concentrator-based SIPH systems, LCUTE is estimated in the range of INR 1030/GJ to INR 1610/GJ. From a critical analysis of financial viability in consideration of related factors such as payback time and return on investment in SIPH, it appears that the SIPH systems for hot water generation may be a good choice, whereas SIPH systems for steam generation are seen to have longer payback periods and lower returns on investment, and, therefore, it seems that adequate financial support from central and state governments with additional supports from bilateral or multilateral organizations may enable them to become a sustainable technology option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]