Improving heat retention properties of steeped M-shape basin solar distillers utilizing paraffin RT50-enhanced silver nanoparticles and Manihot esculenta extracts

Abstract

This research explores the development of phase change materials (PCMs) containing both organic and inorganic components in order to integrate thermal energy storage (TES) systems that are optimized for solar energy usage. The substantial interest in these materials has been sparked by the sporadic nature of solar energy consumption. Solar stills require improvements in distillate output, thermal efficiency, and lower distillate generation costs due to historically limited water production. The goal of this study is to improve these features in a steeped M-shaped basin single slope solar still (SMBSSS). The study specifically looks at the effects of a composite PCM as organic paraffin RT50 (PR) and silver nanoparticles (SN) from Manihot esculenta extracting solutions (ME), it's forming PRSNME nano-composites. It evaluates three modifications as TES materials and thermal property enhancers within SMBSSS. The key findings of the study come from SMBSSS that had 15% concentration of PRSNME installed. Notable results for the summer and winter include respectable thermal efficiency rates of 54.68 % in the summer and 44.46 % in the winter, as well as significant distillate production of 8.106 kg/m2/day and 6.357 kg/m2/day, respectively. PRSNME showed a 26 % increase in distillate yield at 15% concentration. The integration of SMBSSS with PRSNME demonstrated significant improvements in energy efficiency, with summer and winter concentrations of 7.4 % and 6.8 %, respectively, at 15 %. The incorporation of PRSNME proved to be highly effective, as evidenced by the notable 209 % increase in production when compared to the conventional solar still (CSS). An impact of 34.8 tons CO2 annually for SMBSSS was found through environmental calculations, indicating possible environmental advantages. Furthermore, cost study revealed that freshwater costs were greater for CSS (0.028 $/Litter) than for modified SMBSSS (0.014 $/Litter), indicating possible cost-effectiveness.