Experimental investigation on solar still with nanomaterial and dripping arrangement

ABSTRACT

The scarcity of potable water for drinking purpose is everywhere in the world. The solar still can be used to provide potable water for the drinking purpose, but it has a daily yield of 3 litres/day. The experimental examination has been conducted on Modified solar still during March 2019 for climate condition of Patan district, Gujarat, India during morning 09 am to evening 06 pm. The performance enhancement of the Modified Solar still (MSS) has been carried out by the use of Zinc Oxide as nanoparticle and dripping arrangement of water compared with the Conventional Solar still (CSS). From the experiments, it has been observed that the yield of MSS and CSS found 3.04 l/m² and 1.887 l/m². The thermal efficiency of the MSS and CSS also determined and found 30% and 21%, respectively. It has also been observed that the modifications applied to the MSS obtained overall efficiency of 52.5%. The economic analysis of the MSS and CSS found the cost of water is, respectively, 0.95 INR/l and 0.75 INR/l. It is concluded that the solar still with nanomaterials and dripping arrangement improved the yield.

KEYWORDS:

• Solar still
• nanomaterial
• dripping
• CPL – Cost per liter
• thermal efficiency

Acknowledgements

Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library.

Nomenclature

SS – Solar still

SEM – Scanning electron microscope

CSS- Conventional solar still

MSS – Modified Solar still

INR – Indian National Rupee

l – Litre

I – Solar intensity (W/m²)

T_w – Temperature of water (°C)

T_ci – Temperature of inner glass cover (°C)

m – yield

m CSS – yield obtained from CSS

m MSS – yield obtained from MSS

i – interest rate

n – Number of years

CRF – Capital recovery factor

F = Fabrication cost

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hitesh Panchal

Dr. Hitesh Panchal is currently working as Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering Department at Government Engineering College patan, Gujarat, India.  He has published more than 120 Research papers, 10 book chapters and filed 21 patents. He has 14 years of Teaching and Research Experience in Solar Thermal and Solar Photovoltaic applications for Sustainable Development.  His areas of interests include solar Desalination, Solar PV/T hybrid technologies,  Automobile emission and control etc.

Kishor Kumar Sadasivuni

Dr. Kishor Kumar is working in Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University. He has published 82 Journal papers, 12 book chapters, 7 books edited and 3 patents filed. He has about 10 years of experience in synthesis & characterization of nanoparticles and also in manufacturing nanocomposites for industrial applications. His areas of interest include different types of nanocomposite fabrication, modifications, designs and their applications especially sensors, piezoelectrics, actuators, energy storage, Dielectrics, 3D-Printing and flexible electronics