Seasonal Performance of Solar still
Description
The present research is based on the hypothesis that integration of nanofluid-based solar thermal enhancement techniques with conventional solar desalination systems can significantly improve heat transfer characteristics, evaporation rate, freshwater productivity, and overall thermal performance. The study proposes that nanofluids, due to their enhanced thermal conductivity and volumetric solar absorption capability, can absorb higher solar energy, increase basin water temperature, reduce thermal losses, and improve the efficiency of solar desalination systems. The experimental investigation was conducted on a modified single-basin solar still integrated with a nanofluid-based solar collector (NBSC) and compared with a conventional solar still under similar climatic conditions. The objective was to evaluate the influence of nanofluid concentration, basin water depth, solar radiation intensity, and operating parameters on the thermal behaviour and freshwater production of the system. The experimental setup consisted of a solar still coupled with a nanofluid circulation system. Experiments were performed by varying the nanofluid concentration (1.25 ml/L and 2.5 ml/L) and basin water depth (30 mm, 40 mm, and 50 mm). The nanofluid was circulated at a flow rate of 3 L/min using a 12 V DC pump with 19 W power input. Paraffin oil was incorporated as a thermal energy storage medium to improve heat retention and maintain evaporation during periods of reduced solar intensity. The experiments were carried out under actual outdoor climatic conditions, and data were collected at regular intervals. The measured parameters included solar radiation intensity, ambient temperature, wind velocity, basin water temperature, absorber temperature, glass cover temperature, collector outlet temperature, and hourly distillate production. Solar radiation was measured using a calibrated pyranometer, while temperature variations were recorded through thermocouples connected to a data acquisition system. The collected data were analysed to determine the effect of nanofluid integration on thermal performance, productivity enhancement, and system efficiency. The optimized nanofluid-based volumetric absorption solar collector (NBVASC) integrated solar still achieved a distillate productivity of approximately 4.78 L/m²/day with an efficiency improvement of around 39.10% compared with the conventional solar still. These findings confirm that nanofluid-assisted solar desalination can effectively overcome the limitations of conventional systems by improving energy conversion and freshwater production.
Files
Steps to reproduce
The experimental data were generated through a systematic outdoor testing methodology to evaluate the thermal performance of a nanofluid-assisted solar desalination system. The research involved the design, fabrication, and experimental investigation of a modified single-basin solar still integrated with a nanofluid-based solar collector (NBSC). The performance of the modified system was compared with a conventional solar still under similar environmental conditions to determine the effectiveness of thermal enhancement techniques. The experimental setup consisted of a single slope solar still coupled with a nanofluid circulation loop. The system included a solar collector, storage tank, circulation pump, and heat exchange arrangement for transferring enhanced thermal energy to the basin water. Paraffin oil was used as a thermal energy storage medium to improve heat retention and maintain evaporation during fluctuating solar radiation conditions. The experiments were performed by varying operational parameters, including nanofluid concentration (1.25 ml/L and 2.5 ml/L) and basin water depth (30 mm, 40 mm, and 50 mm). The nanofluid was circulated through the system at a constant flow rate of 3 L/min using a 12 V DC pump with 19 W power input. The experiments were conducted under real outdoor climatic conditions, and measurements were recorded during daylight hours. Solar radiation intensity was measured using a calibrated Kipp & Zonen pyranometer, while temperature measurements were obtained using calibrated thermocouples installed at different locations, including the basin water, absorber plate, glass cover, and collector inlet/outlet sections. The temperature signals were recorded using a LOG BOX SD data logger for continuous monitoring and accurate data acquisition. Ambient parameters such as air temperature and wind velocity were also monitored during each experimental run. The freshwater production rate was measured by collecting the condensed water from the distillation unit at regular time intervals. The hourly and daily productivity values were calculated based on the collected distillate volume. Thermal performance indicators, including energy efficiency, evaporation rate, and productivity enhancement, were evaluated using the measured experimental data. Before conducting experiments, all measuring instruments were calibrated to minimize measurement errors and ensure reliability. Each experimental condition was repeated under similar climatic conditions, and average values were considered for analysis. The recorded data were processed and analysed using spreadsheet-based calculations and graphical interpretation methods. Comparative analysis was performed between the modified nanofluid-assisted solar still and conventional solar still to identify the effect of nanofluid integration on system performance.
Institutions
- Sant Baba Bhag Singh UniversityPunjab, Jalandhar