Investigational study on improving the yield from hybrid PV/T modified conventional solar still with enhanced evaporation and condensation technique - An experimental approach

ABSTRACT

Renewable energy source is insisted in all areas of technology, especially the adaptation of solar power for various purposes. The present investigational study is carried out to improve the efficiency of PV/T solar still using enhanced evaporation and condensation technique. A DC-powered blower is fixed inside single slope solar still which increases the turbulence of evaporated vapor from the saline water inside the solar still while the condensation is improved using the cover cooling technique. The experiment is conducted on a constant water depth of 1 cm with three different blow rate periods (5 min, 10 min, and 15 min). The blower runs and stops for 30 seconds time period in all blow rates. To improve the efficiency of the photovoltaic system, an inorganic phase change material (PCM) (Glauber salt (Na₂SO₄.10H₂O) is used underneath the PV panel for cooling the panel. To obtain a higher production rate of distilled water, a nickel-chromium (NiCr) heater is placed in the solar still which is powered by the integrated solar PV system. This proposed work helps to enhance the freshwater production process from saline water and also solar power production. From this investigation, it is observed that the proposed PV/T solar still gives an improved overall thermal and electrical efficiency of almost 12.5% and 11.5% respectively, and is superior as compared to the conventional solar still.

KEYWORDS:

• Solar still
• hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T)
• thermal efficiency
• electrical efficiency
• blower
• scraped metals

Nomenclature

Table

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Karthikeyan Ganesan

Karthikeyan Ganesan received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Anna University, Chennai, India in 2012 and received his master’s degree degree in Applied Electronics from Anna University in 2014. He completed the doctoral degree from Anna University, Chennai. Presently, he is working as Associate Professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, PSR Engineering College (Autonomous), Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, India. His current research interests include power electronics and renewable energy systems.

David Prince Winston

David Prince Winston completed his bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Anna University, Chennai, India in 2006 and his master’s degree in Power Electronics and Drives from Anna University in 2008. He received a doctoral degree from Anna University, Chennai in 2013. Presently, he is working as a Professor and Head in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology (Autonomous), Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India. His current research interests include electric motor drives, power converters, power quality, and renewable energy systems.

Sathyamurthy Ravishankar

Ravishankar sathyamurthy is currently working as Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology (Autonomous), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.. His research interest includes Energy Engineering, Solar Energy, Desalination, Energy Storage, Heat and Mass Transfer. He is also serving as an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Energy Research (Solar Energy section) and Energy Engineering Journal. He has published more than 150 International articles in leading International Journals and serving as reviewer and reviewed more than 200 international research articles.

Suresh Muthusamy

Suresh Muthusamy received the bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and the master’s degree in Power Electronics and Drives during the year 2009 and 2011 from Anna University, Chennai and Anna University, Coimbatore, respectively. Currently, he is working toward the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering at Anna University, Chennai, in the area of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems. Since 2011, he has been working as an Assistant Professor Senior Grade in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Kongu Engineering College (Autonomous), Perundurai, Erode. He published more than 85 research articles in the reputed international journal publications like Elsevier, Springer, Taylor & Francis, SAGE, ASME, etc. & indexed in SCI, SCIE, Scopus, and Web of Science with good impact factor and also presented many papers in national and international conferences. His areas of interest include hybrid renewable energy systems, power electronic converters, hybrid electric vehicles, and battery management systems.