Enhancing solar distillation through beeswax-infused tubular solar still with a heat exchanger using parabolic trough collector

Abstract

This scholarly investigation elucidates the imperative for advancing solar thermal desalination systems, an exigency compounded by the twin global challenges of burgeoning solar implementational proliferation alongside intensifying non-potable water scarcity. The primary research objective underlines manifesting the latent productivity within passive tubular solar still (TSS) configurations via an amalgamated active system through the integration of metallic thermal transfer constituents (heat exchanger) alongside parabolic trough collector (PTC). Additionally, accelerated vapor condensation kinetics are catalyzed by the inclusion of beeswax phase change material (PCM) within the tubular metallurgies. A thorough empirical analysis of said system scrutinizes the synergistic fusion of concentrated solar thermal capacities using concentrated solar power (CSP) paradigms in tubular solar photo-thermal frameworks with beeswax constituting the auxiliary PCM thermal sink. A bifurcated data set provides experimental controls lacking PCM alongside PCM incorporation with repeating data gathering phases assessing comparative solar distillation system performance. The culminating system productivity and efficiency results exhibit a 66.18 % and 54.04 % respectively enhancement. Thus, the amalgamation of PTC-augmented TSS with metallic thermal exchangers & PCM beeswax integration introduces pragmatic pathways for advancing intensive solar-powered desalination output. Further academic interrogation of enabling thermal and optical phenomena driving said performance optimization remains imperative.