Investigation and performance analysis of solar desalination system for small family potable water requirement

Abstract

quot newlineSolar still is a simple device, which gives the distillate water with the help of solar energy. It is a non-polluting and low cost device, which can be used mostly in the remote areas and where there is a problem of electricity.The objective of the present research work is enhancing the distillate output in triple basin solar still (TBSS). The experimental work was done on TBSS with different modifications like attachments of evacuated tubes (ETCs), heat pipes (HP), corrugated surfaces and energy storage materials. The performance of modified triple basin solar still (MTBSS) was checked with conventional triple basin solar still (CTBSS). This experimental work measured the performance of triple basin solar still (TBSS). The experimental work was performed from September 2019 to October 2020 in climatic conditions of Bopal, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India (23.0337° N, 72.4634° E). The experiment was conducted on TBSS under different conditions case i) TBSS only, case ii) TBSS with ETCs, case iii) TBSS with ETCs + heat pipes, and case iv) TBSS with ETCs+ heat pipes, corrugated surfaces, and energy storage materials. The performance of conventional triple basin solar still (CTBSS) was measured with modified triple basin solar (MTBSS). The attachments of evacuated tubes with TBSS increase the heat transfer coefficient of water and gives higher basin water temperature. To increase the heat transfer rate of vapour, heat pipes were used with ETCs. In TBSS, to increase the area of the basin, its surface was corrugated, which absorbs more solar radiation inside it and increases the water temperature. In TBSS, the night distillate output remains lower due to the low ambient temperature and solar intensity. To enhance the night distillate productivity of TBSS pebbles, black gravel and white marbles were used as energy storage materials. After conducting the experimental work, it was found that the performance of TBSS with different modifications gives higher distillate output than CTBSS. The maximum distillate output obtained