Abstract
A theoretical study was made on the effect of a cooling tower on a solar desalination system. A prototype unit was designed using the humidification–dehumidification principle. It had the following independent components: a humidifier, a condenser, two solar collectors of air and of water, and a cooling tower. The present unit was designed to work at low temperatures (60–100°C) of brackish water or using geothermal energy. A mathematical model based on the conservation equations of mass and energy was developed to present the temperature in every component. This system can operate with several configurations according to the use of the cooling tower and the multiple effects. Finally we looked for the optimal configuration for maximum fresh water production.