Techno-enviro-economic assessment of novel hybrid inclined-multi-effect vertical diffusion solar still for sustainable water distillation.

Abstract

A novel hybrid inclined-multi effect vertical diffusion (Hybrid I-MEVD) solar still has been proposed and its viability for sustainable water distillation has been assessed based on detailed techno-enviro-economic aspects. The optimum number of diffusion chambers and recommended diffusion gap of integrated MEVD still was estimated to be 4 and 0.01m, respectively. Incorporation of the bottom reflector at yearly average optimum tilt angle enhanced yield by about 34.0 to 90.0%. Yearly average distillate yield, coefficient of performance, and exergy efficiency were about 21.35kg/day, 1.05, and 10.44%, respectively. Net carbon-di-oxide, sulphur-di-oxide, and nitrogen oxide emission mitigation potential ranged between 37.02 to 65.05 tons, 266.20 to 467.71kg and 108.73 to 191.04kg, respectively. Global warming potential, acidification potential, photochemical oxidants creation potential, eutrophication potential, and human toxicity potential were about 67.25kg of CO2/kL of distillate, 591.04g of SO2/kL of distillate, 178.63g of C2H4/kL of distillate, 23.22g of PO4/kL of distillate, and 698.53g of DCB/kL of distillate, respectively. The minimum distillate production cost was estimated to be about 13.3 USD/kL. High distillate production rate, minimal environmental footprint, and distillate production cost justify Hybrid I-MEVD still to be a sustainable option for potable water production in fresh water-starved regions.