Validation of thermal models to predict the productivity and heat transfer coefficients for passive solar still with different nanoparticles

ABSTRACT

The study aims to predict the internal heat transfer coefficient (HTC) and distillate output of single slope solar still with and without nanoparticles for 41° tilt angle of glass cover with 4 cm water depth using various existing thermal models. The experiment is conducted in the winter season at the Solar Lab of MITS, Gwalior campus, M.P., India. After experiment on SSs at three different tilt angles (11°, 26°, and 41°) and three different water depths (4 cm, 5 cm, and 10 cm) it is observed that for winter season, the optimum tilt angle of glass cover is 41° and optimum water depth is 4 cm. Therefore, in this paper, six different thermal models have been validated at optimal parameters. The yield predicted using different thermal models is validated with the experimental yield. Statistical tool correlation coefficient (r) and root mean square percentage deviation (e) are calculated to show the error between experimental and predicted values. It is noticed that the value of correlation coefficient (r) is almost 0.99 for all models and for all cases. Kumar and Tiwari model shows the better agreement with the experimental value, with the lowest yield percentage deviation of 8.41%, 9.52%, and 9.89% for solar still with ZnO nanofluids, CuO nanofluids, and without nanoparticles, respectively. The distillate obtained through the CuO nanofluids and ZnO nanofluids is about 41.11% and 9.75% higher than the water without nanoparticles for 41° tilt angle of glass cover and 4 cm of water depth.

KEYWORDS:

• Solar still
• water depth
• distilled water
• tilt angle
• heat transfer coefficient
• nanoparticles
• thermal models

Acknowledgments

This is the part of my Ph.D. work. The authors would like to acknowledge the funding acquired from CRS PROJECT (Project Application ID No. 1-5772916950) sanctioned under TEQIP-III Collaborative Research Scheme (AICTE-TEQIP-III CRS).

Nomenclature

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Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the TEQIP-III Collaborative Research Scheme [Project Application ID No. 1-5772916950].

Notes on contributors

Vikas Kumar Thakur

Vikas Kumar Thakur has obtained his Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from Cambridge Institute of Technology, Ranchi, Jharkhand (2011-2015). Master of Technology in Production Engineering from Birsa Institute of Technology (BIT), Sindri, Dhanbad (2015-2017), Jharkhand and Ph.D. is ongoing in Solar Distillation from Madhav Institute of Technology and Science (MITS), Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. 8 of his papers have been published in various international and national journals and conferences. His broad area of interest includes thermodynamics, heat transfer, Solar Energy and Solar Distillation. He is the reviewer of the ‘Solar Energy’ and ‘Journal of Thermal Engineering’ journal.

Manoj Kumar Gaur

Manoj Kumar Gaur works as a Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering, Madhav Institute of Technology & Science Gwalior India. He has obtained his Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Branch from Oriental Institute of Technology and Science, Bhopal, Master of Technology in Engineering Materials from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal and Ph.D from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi. He has authored two books titled ‘Solar Energy: Problems Solutions and Experiments’ and “Optimization of machining parameters of hard porcelain on CNC machine”. He has guided 35 M.Tech Scholar. One Phd is submitted under his guidance and seven are under progress. His broad area of interest includes thermodynamics, heat transfer, Solar Energy and Solar Distillation. He has authored three books titled ‘Solar Thermal Systems: Thermal Analysis & Application’, ‘Solar Energy: Problems Solutions and Experiments’ and “Optimization of machining parameters of hard porcelain on CNC machine”.

Amrat Kumar Dhamneya

Dr A K Dhamneya received the Ph.D. Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology Bhopal India, in 2018. Also, he has received M. Tech. Degree in Thermal Engineering from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology Bhopal India, in 2011. He currently works as an assistant professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering, Madhav Institute of Technology & Science Gwalior India. He has published several research papers, book chapters and book in peered review journal. His current research areas include the design of Thermal System, Solar Energy, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning and Evaporative cooling.

Prem Kumar Chaurasiya

Dr. Prem Kumar Chaurasiya is working as an Assistant Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering, with additional charge of NAAC & NIRF Coordinator at  Sagar Institute of Science and Technology, Bhopal, India.  His nature of experience is Teaching and Research (Science, Technology, Society, and Sustainable Development). His areas of specializations are; Energy Technology, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy Applications, Energy Economics, Heat Transfer, and Environmental Issues. He has completed four research funded projects in these areas. He has more than 5 years of experience in the field of energy technology. He has published papers in International peer-reviewed journals like Renewable Energy, Fuel, Energy Conversion and Management. His paper is being cited in all the reputed relevant journals. He is an author of 2 books. He has been granted 4 Patent. Dr. Prem has also served as a Managing Guest Editor for Materials Today Proceeding (Elsevier) and Leading Guest Editor for Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering (Springer). Currently he is handling the Guest Editorship of Environmental Science and Pollution Research (Springer) and Energies (MDPI). He is also an active reviewer for various international journal of repute. He has also organized International Conference entitled “Technology Innovation in Mechanical Engineering- TIME 2021”.