Studies on thermal performance of single slope solar still integrated with solar dish concentrator and photovoltaic cells

Abstract

newline The rising global demand for drinking water has sparked significant interest in exploring various methods of convert the seawater into potable drinking water. Among these methods, solar desalination systems have emerged as particularly promising solutions. These systems utilize solar energy to evaporate seawater, leaving behind salt and other impurities, thereby producing freshwater. The appeal of solar desalination lies in its renewable and sustainable nature, as it harnesses the abundant energy provided by the sun to address the pressing need for clean drinking water on a global scale. As populations grow and urbanize, and climate change exacerbates water scarcity issues, the efficient and effective development of solar desalination technologies becomes increasingly crucial in ensuring access to safe and reliable drinking water for all. newlineThe present research work focus on the energy and exergy efficiency of a single slope solar still hybrid with Dish concentrator and PV cells. The use of dish concentrator increases the water temperature inside the still and enhance the evaporation rate. The use of PV cells in the still produce electrical power along with freshwater yield. This hybrid approach maximizes the utilization of available solar energy, enhancing the overall efficiency of the system. In the case of the solar still with dish concentrator, the experiments were conducted for four different conditions: Without Insulation-Without Dish (WoI-WoD), With Insulation-Without Dish (WI-WoD), Without Insulation-With Dish (WoI-WD), and With Insulation-With Dish (WI-WD). The 0.25 m2 stainless steel still was insulated with layers of plywood and thermocol, with the exception of the bottom. In order to improve newlineiv newlineyield, solar concentrator dish was placed below the still to concentrate sun energy and raise the temperature of the still water. Experiments were carried out in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, under specific climatic conditions. The WI-WD combination produced highest daily water yield, with 25.49% of