Thermal performance enhancement of a modified pyramid distiller using different modifications with low-cost materials

Abstract

This study seeks to enlarge the yield and thermal performance and reduce the cost of the conventional pyramid distiller. Three modified pyramid distiller systems have been proposed, and their effects on the thermo-economic performance have been investigated. The first proposed system uses v-corrugated aluminum basin, black cotton fabric (wick material), and paraffin wax as PCM. In contrast, the second one uses the same parts as the first one, but the carbon black nanofluid is used instead of base water. The last modification was like the second one, but with the addition of CB nanoparticles to the paraffin wax to increase its absorptivity and heat transfer rate. Thermal analysis has been conducted to evaluate their thermal performance from the perspective of exergy and energy efficiency compared to the conventional system. Moreover, an economic investigation has been undertaken to evaluate yield's cost per one liter in each case. According to the results, it was found that the three established systems performed well from a thermo-economic point of view when compared to the conventional one. Compared to the conventional system, it is found that the third system yield has been enhanced by 76.9%, while its thermal efficiency has been increased by 101.5%, and the exergy efficiency has been improved by 109.7%. Finally, the save in the total yield's cost per liter is 29.7% when using the last system compared to the conventional one.