Experimental investigation of the effect of using the cylindrical parabolic collector, different solar panels and their cooling on seawater desalination in double-slope solar still

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study was aimed at examining the effect of using solar panels and cylindrical parabolic collectors, or CPCs, on solar still unit. Cooling of the solar panels up to 25°C has been also conducted in order to rise the amount of produced freshwater. In the first setup, the solar still unit has been made up of 300 W and 600 W solar panels along with the CPC devices of lengths 1 m and 2 m outside for water heating. The second setup was designed in a way that water is heated by the solar panels as well as the CPC device with the copper pipe circulation inside the solar still unit, so the hot water within the pipe has raised the temperature of the water as a heat exchanger inside the solar still. Based on the results, the second setup had a higher efficiency than the first setup. Moreover, the highest amount of fresh water was 4.215 kg and 5.091 kg during one day in the first setup and the second setup, respectively. Cases 1 to 6 are related to the first setup and cases 7 to 12 are related to the second setup. The lowest fresh water production in case 1 was 2.852 kg. the highest water temperature in experimental setup 1 was 71.9 °C and in experimental setup 2 was 84.8°C.