Study of a Frugal Solar Still using Phase Change Materials and Nanoparticles

Abstract

newline It is well-known that the reserve of fresh water is only 3% throughout the world. Developing newlineand underdeveloped nations are worst affected, among different nations, because poor newlineinfrastructure, weaker economy, frequent flood and other unavoidable circumstances. Many newlinepeople die during flood due to scarcity of drinking water. Hence, it is easily understood that newlinethere is huge demand of fresh or potable water throughout the world. Solar distillation is an newlineinexpensive technology to produce distilled water which may be used in boilers or other newlineengineering operations. Besides, minerals may be added to this water to make it potable. The newlinepresent study focuses on the design and fabrication of passive solar still system with phase newlinechange materials (PCM). In order to improve the distillate, PCMs (paraffin wax, stearic acid, newlineand lauric acid) have been stored in a copper cylinder. The effects of basin water depth on total newlinedistillate have been studied for all three cases. The maximum distillate has been obtained at newline1 cm depth for all cases with three PCMs used in this study. Total distillate decreased linearly newlinewith water depth for all three PCMs.