skip to main content

Theoretical study of a double-slope solar still with solar air heater condenser

Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Jouf University, Sakaka, Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia

Received: 25 Apr 2023; Revised: 14 Aug 2023; Accepted: 5 Sep 2023; Available online: 14 Sep 2023; Published: 1 Nov 2023.
Editor(s): H Hadiyanto
Open Access Copyright (c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Centre of Biomass and Renewable Energy (CBIORE)
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Citation Format:
Abstract

Despite their limited water production and efficiency, double-slope solar stills are an appropriate solution for water scarcity in hot arid regions. Numerous studies have focused on enhancing the effectiveness of double-slope solar stills. In this context, this study introduces a double-slope solar with a solar air heater condenser (DSSS-SAHC). The back cover of a conventional double-slope solar still was replaced by a glass air heater in order to recover the still’s thermal losses in heating air. The transient performance of the DSSS-SAHC was investigated numerically under real weather conditions and compared to the performance of a conventional double-slope solar still (CDSSS) with the same aspects. The impact of various weather and operation factors on the DSSS-SAHC performance was investigated at air flows of 0.01 and 0.1 kg/s to account for both natural and forced air circulation, respectively. The results revealed an increase of about 15% and 6% in the thermal efficiency of the DSSS-SAHC over that of the CDSSS, respectively, at air flows of 0.1 and 0.01 kg/s despite the DSSS-SAHC distillate was insignificantly greater than that of the CDSSS at both air flows. In addition, the water distillate of the DSSS-SAHC increased as the solar irradiance increased, the ambient wind and ambient temperature had contrary effects on the efficiency, and the initial saline water level had a negligible impact on the overall performance

Fulltext View|Download
Keywords: Double-slope; Solar still; Solar air heater; Thermal performance
Funding: Jouf University

Article Metrics:

  1. Abdullah, A.S., Alarjani, A., Abou Al-sood, M.M., Omara, Z.M., Kabeel, A.E. & Essa, F.A. (2019). Rotating-wick solar still with mended evaporation technics: Experimental approach, Alexandria Engineering Journal, 58, 1449-1459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2019.11.018
  2. Agrawal, R. & Singh, K.D.P. (2021). Performance evaluation of double slope solar still augmented with binary eutectic phase change material and steel wool fibre, Sustain. Energy Technol. Assessments, 48, 101597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2021.101597
  3. Ahmed, H.M., Alshutal, F.S. & Ghaleb, I.G. (2014). Impact of Different Configurations on Solar Still Productivity, J. Adv. Sci. Eng. Res., 4(2), 118-126. http://www.sign-ific-ance.co.uk/index.php/JASER/article/viewFile/762/1442
  4. Alwan, N.T., Shcheklein, S.E. & Ali O.M. (2020). Experimental investigation of modified solar still integrated with solar collector, Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 19, 100614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2020.100614
  5. Belhadj, M.M., Bouguettaia, H., Marif, Y. & Zerrouki, M. (2015). Numerical study of a double-slope solar still coupled with capillary film condenser in south Algeria, Energy Conversion and Management, 94, 245–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2015.01.069
  6. Castillo-Téllez, M., Pilatowsky-Figueroa, I., Sánchez-Juárez, Á. & Fernández-Zayas, J. L. (2015). Experimental study on the air velocity effect on the efficiency and fresh water production in a forced convective double slope solar still, Applied Thermal Engineering, 75, 1192-1200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2014.10.032
  7. Dwivedi, V.K. & Tiwari, G.N. (2010). Experimental validation of thermal model of a double slope active solar still under natural circulation mode, Desalination, 250, 49-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2009.06.060
  8. Elgendi, M., Selim, M.Y.E., Aldhaheri, A., Alshehhi, W., Almarshoodi, H. & Alhefeiti, A. (2022). Design procedures for a passive pyramid solar still with an automatic feed water system, Alexandria Engineering Journal, 61, 6419-6431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2021.12.002
  9. Elmaadawy, K., Kandeal, A.W., Khalil, A., Elkadeem, M.R., Liu, B., Sharshir, S.W. (2021). Performance improvement of double slope solar still via combinations of low cost materials integrated with glass cooling, Desalination, 500, 114856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2020.114856
  10. El-Maghlany, W.M. (2015). An approach to optimization of double slope solar still geometry for maximum collected solar energy, Alexandria Engineering Journal, 54(4), 823-828. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2015.06.010
  11. Essa, F.A., Abd Elaziz, M. & Elsheikh, A.H. (2020). An enhanced productivity prediction model of active solar still using artificial neural network and Harris Hawks optimizer, Applied Thermal Engineering, 170, 115020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2020.115020
  12. Fallahzadeh, R., Aref, L., Avargani, V.M. & Gholamiarjenaki, N. (2020). An experimental investigation on the performance of a new portable active bubble basin solar still, Applied Thermal Engineering, 181, 115918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2020.115918
  13. Fath, H.E.S. & Hosny, H.M. (2002). Thermal performance of a single-sloped basin still with an inherent built-in additional condenser, Desalination, 142, 19-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0011-9164(01)00422-2
  14. Gnanaraj, S.J.P. & Velmurugan, V. (2022). Experimental investigation on the performance of modified single basin double slope solar stills, International Journal of Ambient Energy, 43(1), 206-215. https://doi.org/10.1080/01430750.2019.1636861
  15. Hedayati-Mehdiabadi, E., Sarhaddi, F. & Sobhnamayan, F. (2020). Exergy performance evaluation of a basin-type double-slope solar still equipped with phase-change material and PV/T collector, Renew. Energy, 145, 2409-2425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.07.160
  16. Hussen, H.M., Younes, M.M., Alawee, W.H., Abdullah, A.S., Mohammed, S.A., Atteya, T.E.M., Abbas, F. & Omara, Z.M. (2023). An experimental comparison study between four different designs of solar stills, Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 44, 102841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2023.102841
  17. Jani, H.K. & Modi, K.V. (2019). Experimental performance evaluation of single basin dual slope solar still with circular and square cross-sectional hollow fins. Sol. Energy, 179, 186-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2018.12.054
  18. Kabeel, A.E., Harby, K., Abdelgaied, M. & Eisa, A. (2020). Performance of the modified tubular solar still integrated with cylindrical parabolic concentrators, Solar Energy, 204, 181-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.04.080
  19. Kaviti, A.K., Naike, V.R., Ram, A.S. & Thakur, A.K. (2022). Energy and exergy analysis of a truncated and parabolic finned double slope solar stills, International Journal of Ambient Energy, 43(1), 6210-6223. https://doi.org/10.1080/01430750.2021.2009368
  20. Kumbhar, S.V. (2019). Double slope solar still distillate output data set for conventional still and still with or without reflectors and PCM using high TDS water samples, Data in brief, 24, 103852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2019.103852
  21. Maheswari, K.S., Mayandi, K., Joe Patrick Gnanaraj, S. & Appadurai, M. (2022). Effect of transparent glass cover material on double slope solar still productivity, Mater. Today: Proc., 62(8), 5415-5419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2022.03.702
  22. Mevada, D., Panchal, H., Ahmadein, M., Zayed, M.E., Alsaleh, N.A., Djuansjah, J., Moustafa, E.B., Elsheikh, A.H. & Sadasivuni, K.K. (2022). Investigation and performance analysis of solar still with energy storage materials: An energy- exergy efficiency analysis, Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 29, 101687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2021.101687
  23. Modi, K. & Jani, H. (2021). Experimental and theoretical assessment of dual-slope single-basin solar still with the circular cross-sectional hollow-fins. Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 4, 100231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2021.100231
  24. Modi, K.V., Nayi, K.H. & Sharma, S.S. (2020). Influence of water mass on the performance of spherical basin solar still integrated with parabolic reflector, Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 10, 100299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2019.100299
  25. Modi, K.V., Patel, U.N., Patel, S.J., Patel, J.N. & Patel, S.R. (2022).Efficacy of partially and fully submerged circular cross-section metal hollow-fins and black cotton cloth wick-segments on a single-basin dual-slope solar still, Journal of Cleaner Production, 344, 131059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131059
  26. Morad, M.M., El-Maghawry, H.A.M. & Wasfy, K.I. (2015). Improving the double slope solar still performance by using flat-plate solar collector and cooling glass cover, Desalination, 373, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2015.06.017
  27. Murugavel, K.K. & Srithar, K. (2011). Performance study on basin type double slope solar still with different wick materials and minimum mass of water, Renewable Energy, 36, 612-620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2010.08.009
  28. Murugavel, K.K., Chockalingam, Kn.K.S.K. & Srithar, K. (2008). An experimental study on single basin double slope simulation solar still with thin layer of water in the basin, Desalination, 220, 687-693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2007.01.063
  29. Murugavel, K.K., Sivakumar, S., Ahamed, R.J., Chockalingam, S.K. & Srithar, K. (2010). Single basin double slope solar still with minimum basin depth and energy storing materials, Appl. Energy, 87, 514-523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2009.07.023
  30. Patel, S.K., Kumar, B., Pal, P., Dev, R. & Singh, D. (2020). Production of potable water from Gomti River by using modified double slope solar still with external mounted reflectors, Solar Energy, 209, 576-589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.09.036
  31. Raihananda, F.A., Philander, E., Lauvandy, A.F., Soelaiman, T.A.F., Budiman, B.A., Juangsa, F.B. & Sambegoro, P. (2021). Low-cost floating solar still for developing countries: Prototyping and heat-mass transfer analysis, Results in Engineering, 12, 100300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2021.100300
  32. Rajaseenivasan, T. & Murugavel, K. K. (2013). Theoretical and experimental investigation on double basin double slope solar still, Desalination, 319, 25-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2013.03.029
  33. Sahota, L. & Tiwari, G.N. (2016). Effect of nanofluids on the performance of passive double slope solar still: A comparative study using characteristic curve, Desalination, 388, 9-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2016.02.039
  34. Sathyamurthy, R., Kabeel, A.E., Balasubramanian, M., Devarajan, M., Sharshir, S.W. & Manokar, A.M. (2020). Experimental study on enhancing the yield from stepped solar still coated using fumed silica nanoparticle in black paint, Materials Letters, 272, 127873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2020.127873
  35. Sharshir, S.W., Eltawil, M.A., Algazzar, A.M., Sathyamurthy, R. & Kandeal, A.W. (2020). Performance enhancement of stepped double slope solar still by using nanoparticles and linen wicks: Energy, exergy and economic analysis, Applied Thermal Engineering, 174, 115278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2020.115278
  36. Taamneh, Y., Manokar, A.M., Thalib, M.M., Kabeel, A.E., Sathyamurthy, R. & Chamkha, A.J. (2020). Extraction of drinking water from modified inclined solar still incorporated with spiral tube solar water heater, Journal of Water Process Engineering, 38, 101613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2020.101613
  37. Tabrizi, F.F., Dashtban, M., Moghaddam, H. & Razzaghi, K. (2010). Effect of water flow rate on internal heat and mass transfer and daily productivity of a weir-type cascade solar still, Desalination, 160, 239-427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2010.03.037
  38. Tiwari, G.N., Mukherjee, K., Ashok, K.R. & Yadav, Y.P. (1986). Comparison of various designs of solar stills, Desalination, 60, 191-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/0011-9164(86)90008-1
  39. Tuly, S.S., Rahman, M.S., Sarker, M.R.I. & Beg, R.A. (2021). Combined influence of fin, phase change material, wick, and external condenser on the thermal performance of a double slope solar still. J. Clean. Prod., 287, 125458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.12545
  40. Zayed, M.E., Kamal, A., Diab, M.R., Essa, F.A., Muskens, O.L., Fujii, M. & Elsheikh, A.H. (2023). Novel Design of Double Slope Solar Distiller with Prismatic Absorber Basin, Linen Wicks, and Dual Parallel Spraying Nozzles: Experimental Investigation and Energic–Exergic-Economic Analyses, Water, 15, 610. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15030610

Last update:

No citation recorded.

Last update: 2024-05-01 13:02:10

No citation recorded.