Abstract

A four-fold pyramid-shaped solar desalination system has been constructed to produce fresh water for the coastal residents in Bangladesh. To evaluate the heat-storage effectiveness of activated carbon from sugarcane bagasse which was synthesized by KOH activation method and confirmed through SEM/EDS analysis was assessed in a prototype desalination setup. Among the four different insulating materials in the drawer-style chamber of solar still, the PE (polyethylene) foam combined with aluminum foil showed the most effective material for heat retention since it has a low emissivity with a minimum conductive heat transfer loss of 1.65 ± 0.44 W. With a solar radiation of 13.73 MJm−2day−1, the system produced 1.35 kgm−2 of water on November 22, 2023, in Bangladesh. After analyzing the freshwater properties, the salinity, pH, TDS, SG, ORP, and EC of fresh water have been found 0 %, 6.95, 50 ppm, 1.003, −36mV, and 26 μScm−1 respectively. Moreover, the device has an efficiency of 22.64 % with a payback period of 3.3 years. The average distillation value of developed solar still has been found 65 % greater when activated carbon is present. The study also highlights technical optimization and economic feasibility and this solar desalination system presents a promising solution to alleviate freshwater scarcity in Bangladesh.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.