Study the effect of CuO nanoparticles on the performance of passive solar still in winter and summer season

Abstract

The objective of the paper is to carry out the performance analysis of the passive solar still (SS) with CuO nanoparticles and without nanoparticles in winter and summer. Effect of nanoparticles on the internal heat transfer coefficient (HTC) of passive SS has been analyzed and compared with the performance of SS without any nanoparticles. Experimentation is carried out in the month of January and July 2021, at MITS, Gwalior campus. The experimental analysis is performed at 4 cm water depth and at 11°, 26° and 41° tilt angle of condensing cover with and without nanoparticles. SS with high nanoparticles (CuO) gives better performance than without nanoparticles (Plain water). There has been enhancement of 127.98% and 139.44% in the evaporative HTC with CuO nanofluids at 41° and 11° tilt angle of glass cover in winter and summer season as compared to water without nanoparticles respectively. It has been observed that CuO nanofluids and plain water based SS give maximum 2030 mL/m2 and 1530 mL/m2day distilled water in a day respectively, at 41° tilt angles in winter season while in summer SS with CuO and plain water achieved maximum 4020 mL/m2day and 2380 mL/m2day of fresh water at 11° tilt angles of glass cover respectively. It has been noted that performance of SS is remarkably increased with nanofluids as compared to water without nanoparticles.