Energy Performance Improvement of a Solar Still System Using Date and Olive Kernels: Experimental Study

Abstract

AbstractCurrently, solar distillation systems are used to contribute to solving the fresh water supply deficiency problem in some desert and rural areas. The present outdoor experimental work aims to improve the energy performance of a solar still installed in a semi‐arid region. Experiments are performed using three solar distillers (a reference system, a distiller with date kernels, and one with olive kernels). The integration effect of two kernel types date and olive with different concentrations in the range of 300–600 g kernels per 5 L on the hourly and cumulus water production, and thermal and exergy efficiencies are analyzed. The results show that, for the same kernel mass concentration, the system with olive kernel is more effective than that with date kernels; moreover, compared to the reference system, cumulus water production of these systems at a mass concentration of 500 g kernels per 5 L is higher by ≈226% and 176%, respectively. At a concentration of 500 g kernels per 5 L, the average daily thermal efficiency of the solar still with olive kernels and that with date kernels is 38.01% and 30.7%, respectively, and their daily average exergy efficiency is 8.4% and 3.1%, respectively.