Efficiency in Reducing Evaporation of Water Sources by Using PET Bottles Containing Plastic Scraps

Authors

  • Jiradet Settakhumpoo Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
  • Vacharapoom Benjaoran Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Keywords:

Evaporation Reduction, Drought, PET Bottles, Waste Reuse

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Evaporation is one of the causes of water loss from agricultural storage ponds. The costly method of covering up storage ponds makes it impossible for smallholder farmers to implement. This article presents a method of using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles filled with an opaque material floating on the water surface to reduce evaporation loss. The filled opaque materials were Laminated Aluminum Foil (LAF) and Assorted Plastic Bags (APB).

Methodology: The experiments were performed using 4 experimental ponds and 1 evaporation pan. The water level was measured on a daily basis to record the evaporation rate. One experimental pond and the standard Class-A pan were used as controls. The remaining three ponds were covered with empty PET bottles, bottles filled with LAF and bottles filled with APB. The water surface temperature was measured. The cost-effectiveness of each scheme was then analyzed using the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) method.

Main Results: The experiment results showed that evaporation decreased by 19.2%, 23.2% and 32.3% respectively, while the average water surface temperatures were 29.8 ºC, 28.9 ºC, and 28.6 ºC, respectively, in the cases of the ponds covered with empty PET bottles, LAF-filled PET bottles and APB-filled PET bottles. The control pond exhibited an average surface water temperature of 27.7 ºC. The ICER values for the empty PET bottles, LAF-filled PET bottles and APB-filled PET bottles were calculated to be 34, 107, and 322 THB per unit of evaporation suppression efficiency, respectively.

Conclusions: LAF-filled PET bottles demonstrated the highest evaporation suppression efficiency and resulted in the lowest water surface temperature among the covered ponds. Regarding the ICER, the empty PET bottles exhibited the lowest value. If one aims to enhance the evaporation suppression efficiency of empty PET bottles, LAF-filled PET bottles present an attractive option, as they have a lower ICER value compared to APB-filled PET bottles.

Practical Application: This method can be employed as an alternative for reducing evaporation in small agricultural or community water sources.

References

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Published

2024-06-30

How to Cite

Settakhumpoo, J., & Benjaoran, V. (2024). Efficiency in Reducing Evaporation of Water Sources by Using PET Bottles Containing Plastic Scraps. Science and Engineering Connect, 47(2), 163–178. retrieved from https://ph04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/SEC/article/view/7735

Issue

Vol. 47 No. 2 (2024): April - June

Section

Research Article

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