Abstract
Solar energy as a sustainable and accessible energy source can be harnessed and converted to electrical energy using photovoltaic modules. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems show tremendous promise as sustainable, environmentally friendly and low-cost electricity sources. Solar energy can also be applied to produce potable water using solar distillation still. In this study, water production performance of four low-cost solar stills with different arrangements of PV module-DC heater and sea sand layer in the solar still basin was evaluated. Four types of double slope single basin solar distillation stills with similar shapes were fabricated. A stainless steel basin with length 50 cm, width 30 cm and depth 8 cm was used in each solar still. The still configurations differed based on inclusion of 2 cm depth of sea sand layer in the basin and use of a 50 Watts PV-DC heater. A comparison of the cumulative water production among these solar stills showed that the integrated system that included sea sand in the solar still basin and also used PV-DC heater was the most effective; producing two times the water produced by a conventional solar still. The integrated solar still can be employed in coastal and rural areas with lack of clean water and electricity supply.
Highlights
The availability of clean drinking water is fundamental to human existence
TW2 is generally higher than TW1 during the day which is due to the application of sea sand as internal heat storage material in still 2 (S2) basin acting as a compensative heat energy source to maintain water temperature during intensity solar radiation periods (Tabrizi and Sharak, 2010) (Fig. 4 and 7)
It is observed that the total cumulative value of Isb and power of W photovoltaic module (Ppv) from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm increased from 108.99 W to the maximum value of 147.95 W, respectively which is higher than the maximum value of Isb of 109.95 W in still 1 (S1) and S2
Summary
The availability of clean drinking water is fundamental to human existence. Yet, the supply of clean fresh water to everyone remains a challenge in many parts of the world. A survey of the literature shows that, the use of an integrated system comprising PV-DC heater and sea sand layer in basin, as external and internal heat energy sources respectively, to improve solar still productivity has not been reported.
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