Performance evaluation of PCM based solar concentrator type desalination device

Abstract

Thar desert of Rajasthan is one of the most water-stressed states in India and has limited surface water resources, and available groundwater is brackish water; therefore, it must be distillate or purified. In the present paper, we develop a concentrating solar thermal desalination device. This system was assembled by dish concentrator, vessel, SS-based condensing unit, stand and jar for distillate water. Also, paraffin wax of melting temperature 58–60 °C was used in this study as a phase change material to increase the water temperature and heat the water. A year-round performance analysis was carried out during 2020 at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, India. The maximum productivity with PCM is 7.12 lit day−1, and without PCM is 6.52 lit day−1 during May 2020. The monthly average distillate obtained from the PCM-based desalination unit is 4.51 lit.month−1, and without PCM, the distillate yield is 3.84 lit.month−1.Incorporating paraffin as a PCM to the concentrating desalination system increased system working hours and increased system productivity by about 109%. The maximum average daily efficiency of the parabolic concentrating solar thermal desalination device varied from 13.5 percent in January to 34.8 percent in May. The economic analysis of the concentrating solar thermal desalination device revealed that the high value of the internal rate of return IRR (87.2 percent) and low value of the payback period (1.40 Years) makes the unit very cost-efficient. Therefore, this solar desalination device can be successfully used to desalinate the saline water in rural areas of the Thar desert of Rajasthan to meet the requirement of potable water. This present study contains valuable information, particularly for researchers, industrialists, and investors interested in solar-based water desalination system investment in hot arid areas of India.