Abstract
This study is intended to investigate and analyze the operational performances of the Conventional Tubular Solar Still (CTSS), Tubular Solar Still with Phase Change Material (TSS-PCM) and Tubular Solar Still with Nano Phase Change Material (TSS-NPCM). Paraffin wax and graphene plusparaffin wax were used in the CTSS to obtain the modified solar still models. The experimental study was carried out in the three stills to observe the operational parameters at a water depth of 1 cm. The experiment revealed that TSS-NPCM showed the best performance and the highest yield in comparison to other stills. The distillate yield from the CTSS, TSS-PCM and TSS-NPCM was noted to be 4.3, 6.0 and 7.9 kg, respectively, the daily energy efficiency of the stills was observed to be 31%, 46% and 59%, respectively, and the daily exergy efficiency of the stills was recorded to be 1.67%, 2.20% and 3.75%, respectively. As the performance of the TSS-NPCM was enhanced, the cost of freshwater yield obtained was also low in contrast to the other two types of stills.
Highlights
The world is breaking barriers to achieve advancements and developments in all fields
The model with Nano Phase Change Material (NPCM) showed 81%, 87.02% and 124.55% increase in freshwater production, thermal and exergy efficiency when compared to the efficiencies of the conventional models because of the high thermal efficiency and heat absorption capacity of graphene
The maximum yield obtained from the Tubular Solar Still (TSS)-NPCM in the current study was noted to be 7.91 kg, which is higher than the conventional stills, and the stills using normal Phase Change Material (PCM)
Summary
The world is breaking barriers to achieve advancements and developments in all fields. The distilled water yield was recorded to be 9.36 L/m2 day, which was calculated to be 109% enhanced when compared to that of the conventional still. Mousa and Gujarathi [28] studied the freshwater productivity of stills using PCM and reported a yield of 2.1 L/day. The productivity, thermal and exergy efficiency were better for the TSS-NPCM in comparison to conventional models. The model with NPCM showed 81%, 87.02% and 124.55% increase in freshwater production, thermal and exergy efficiency when compared to the efficiencies of the conventional models because of the high thermal efficiency and heat absorption capacity of graphene. The maximum yield obtained from the TSS-NPCM in the current study was noted to be 7.91 kg, which is higher than the conventional stills, and the stills using normal PCM.
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