https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2525-6630
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ABSTRACT
Productivity is the primary output of any solar still system, hence solar still technology needs to be improved continuously in order to reduce the price of distillate water. In the current work, we compared the tubular solar still (TSS) with the conventional solar still of the same size and material while conducting experiments and improving performance when implementing a solar water heater. The experiment was conducted in Nagpur, India, in May 2022, at Longitude 21.124419, Latitude 79.002072. Three different water depths, respectively, 1 cm, 2 cm, and 3 cm, were used in the experiment to compare TSS using active solar still with TSS using passive solar still. As part of the investigation, the TSS solar water heater produced the most freshwater, at a rate of 8.76 L/m2, compared to the CTSS solar still, which produced 6.02 L/m2 of water at a depth of 1 cm. For water depths of 1 cm, 2 cm, and 3 cm, respectively, the ATSS increased freshwater highest production at 1 cm depth by 45.51%, in comparison to the CTSS. The costs of producing freshwater, ATSS and CTSS, are 0.015 $/L and 0.011 $/L, respectively. As compared to ATSS, the exergy and thermal efficiency of CTSS at 1 cm of water depth is increased by 130.32% and 24.90%due to the absorber area which is inversely correlated with the hourly thermal efficiency, and the absorber area directly correlated with the still output for the exergy efficiency.
Nomenclature
| Aabs | = | Absorber Area (m2) |
| AMF | = | Amortization factor |
| ANSV | = | Annual salvage value |
| ATSS | = | Active tubular solar still |
| CPC | = | Capital cost |
| Cpw | = | Specific heat of water (J/kg oC) |
| CTSS | = | Conventional tubular solar still |
| DP | = | Distillate Productivity |
| FXC | = | Fixed Cost |
| Gror Gb | = | Solar radiation in W/m2 |
| m | = | Mass of water (Kg) |
| mdp | = | Distillate Productivity (L/m2) |
| MTC | = | Maintenance Cost |
| PDWC | = | Product water cost |
| Qein | = | Heat Energy input to the system (J) |
| Qeout | = | Heat Energy output to the system (J) |
| Qeswh | = | Heat Energy of solar water heater (J) |
| SLV | = | Salvage value |
| SKFF | = | Sinking fund factor |
| SS | = | Solar Still |
| TSS | = | Tubular solar still |
| Tw | = | Water temperature(oC) |
| t | = | Time (hrs) |
| Tbwt | = | Basin water temperature (oC) |
| Ts | = | Surface Temperature (oC) |
| Tamt | = | Ambient temperature (oC) |
| Tswout | = | Solar heater outlet water temperature (oC) |
| Tswin | = | Solar heater inlet water temperature (oC) |
| Tswhout | = | Outlet temperature of solar water heater(oC) |
| Tswhin | = | Inlet temperature of solar water heater(oC) |
Subscripts
| abs | = | Absorber |
| amt | = | Ambient |
| bwt | = | Basin water temperature |
| d | = | daily |
| dp | = | Distillate Productivity |
| exg | = | Exergy |
| IN | = | Inlet |
| OUT | = | Outlet |
| r | = | Radiation |
| swout | = | Solar water outlet |
| swin | = | Solar water inlet |
| swh | = | Solar water heater |
| th | = | Thermal |
Greek symbols
| η | = | Efficiency |
| ∆T | = | Temperature difference |
| Q | = | Heat Energy |
| hfg | = | Latent heat of vaporization |
| $/L | = | Dollar per liter |
Disclosure statement
The authors declare that there are no known conflicts of interest related to this publication and that no funding has been provided that might have affected the research's conclusion.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Nilesh C Kanojiya
Mr. Nilesh C. Kanojiya is working as research scholar at Department of Mechanical Engineering at G H Raisoni University, Amravati, India. He has more than 9 years of academic & research experience. His research area includes solar energy and heat transfer applications.
Achal S Shahare
Dr. Achal S. Shahare is working as Professor at Department of Mechanical Engineering at G H Raisoni University, Amravati, India. He has more than 20 years of academic & research experience. His research area includes computer aided design and modelling analysis.
Ritesh K Sambare
Dr. Ritesh K. Sambare is working as Assistant Professor at Department of Mechanical Engineering at G H Raisoni Institute of Engineering and Technology Nagpur, India. He has more than 9 years of academic & research experience. His research area includes solar energy and heat transfer applications.