Lauric Acid as an Energy Storage Material to Increase Distillation Solar Productivity in Indonesia

Abstract

The use of energy storage materials in a solar distillation system is intended to increase condensate production by making changes in the temperature of the system change slowly, not following fluctuations in the intensity of solar radiation that can change quickly and drastically. One of the effective energy storage systems is the use of Phase Change Materials (PCMs), materials that involve a phase change process in storing and releasing heat, because the latent heat involved in the phase change process has a large enough value under constant temperature conditions so that temperature stability in the system is achieved. The choice of PCM type used in solar distillation is determined by the average temperature that can be reached by the water in the basin, which is strongly influenced by local environmental conditions. This study compares the productivity of the distillate produced by the double slope solar distillation system that uses Lauric Acid as PCM and that does not use PCM. Both studies were conducted at the same time. The optimal amount of LA that must be added to the solar distillation system to get the highest increase in condensate production value is 7.54 kg of Lauric Acid for 64.8 kg of raw water..