Abstract
In this work, photovoltaic thermal-compound parabolic concentrators (PVT-CPC) are integrated to a single slope solar still (SS-SS) through a heat exchanger placed in the basin. A continuous water flow is provided over the condensing cover of SS-SS for yield enhancement. An effect of cooling condensing cover on energy and exergy analysis (thermal and electrical) together with the production cost of distilled water (₹/kg) has been studied for the following three cases: (I) the proposed partially covered photovoltaic thermal-compound parabolic concentrator single slope solar still (PVT-CPC-SS-SS), (II) fully covered thermal-compound parabolic concentrator single slope solar still (PVT-CPC-SS-SS), and (III) flat plate thermal-compound parabolic concentrator single slope solar still (FPC-CPC-SS-SS). Design parameters have been optimized for maximum distillate output (energy) and exergy on annual performance basis. Moreover, higher daily yield (37.9 kg) is obtained for case (iii). In addition, higher electrical module efficiency (13%) is obtained for case (ii) for the month of January when the solar cell temperature is 55 °C at the optimized conditions. However, the proposed system gives daily yield (35.78 kg) and generates electricity at module efficiency of 12%. The energy payback time of the proposed system is estimated to be 2 years.
Highlights
Water is crucial to sustain life on earth, and its demand is primarily influenced by climate change, population growth and urbanization, and energy security policies
After him many researchers worked on different designs (Table 1) of a solar still to improve the performance of the system on an hourly and annual basis to obtain the increased quantity of potable water
Previous studies (Table 1) on passive and active solar stills show that active solar still have higher productivity as they are integrated to external heat sources, e.g., flat plate collector, evacuated tubular collector, solar concentrators, photovoltaic thermal flat plate collector, and photovoltaic thermal-compound parabolic concentrator, which preheats the saline or brackish water
Summary
Water is crucial to sustain life on earth, and its demand is primarily influenced by climate change, population growth and urbanization, and energy security policies. A continuous flow of water or air over condensing cover leads to cooling, which increases the temperature difference and improves productivity (Table 1). It cleans the dirt and filth on the condensing cover, which otherwise, reduces the solar still (SS) efficiency. Previous studies (Table 1) on passive and active solar stills show that active solar still have higher productivity as they are integrated to external heat sources, e.g., flat plate collector, evacuated tubular collector, solar concentrators, photovoltaic thermal flat plate collector, and photovoltaic thermal-compound parabolic concentrator, which preheats the saline or brackish water. The three cases (I–III), which are considered for the study are:
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