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Energy and exergy analyses of fabricated pyramid type solar distillation plant for optimization: An experimental work

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Abstract

In many countries, the availability of fresh drinking water is not enough whereas brackish/saline/seawater is sufficiently available. Solar distillation is the most effective technique to produce drinking water for such countries. Researchers have done lot of work to improve production rate with different shapes and insulations for distillation plants. In this experimental work pyramid-type solar distillation plants with thermocol/foam insulations have been fabricated. Performance analyses have been done in the same environmental conditions with same amount of water in the basin. For comparative analyses, exergy concept has been used for this research work with/without considering Sun’s cone angle and at different water depths in the basin. Experimental work has been concluded as—Maximum distilled water production rates with and without coating are 2500 ml/day and 1600 ml/day. With these results, black paint coating for basin has been recommended for distillation system. Distilled water production rates for 2 and 3 in. water level are 2550 ml/day and 2500 ml/day, hence less water in the basin has been suggested for distillation. Thermocol as insulating material has been proposed for the distillation plant since it gives the highest temperature of water (i.e.62 °C) in the basin. Greatest percentage increment in the average volume of distilled water has also been recorded on 25/06/2020 with coated basin. For all cases, percentage increments have been achieved till 14:00 p.m. and after that decrements have been found due to variations in solar intensities. Smallest exergy destruction rate (i.e. 0.83 W) has been achieved with coated basin at maximum solar intensity but maximum rate has been found with foam insulation.

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Abbreviations

C p :

Specific heat of water (J/kg K)

L :

Length of the distillation system (m)

m :

Mass flow rate of distilled water (kg/s)

dT w :

Temperature difference of water (Kelvin)

Q radiation :

Solar intensity (W/m2)

W :

Width of the distillation system (m)

α, ρ and τ :

Absorptivity, reflectivity and transmissivity of the material

Ψ:

Exergy of solar distillation system (W)

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Acknowledgements

This research work is completed in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Sushila Devi Bansal College of Technology, Indore, India. This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, Sushila Devi Bansal College of Technology, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, 453331, India

    A. Geete

  2. Mechanical Engineering Department, SAGE University, Indore, India

    S. Rathore

  3. Mechanical Engineering Department, Sushila Devi Bansal College of Technology, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India

    V. K. Pathak

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Geete, A., Rathore, S. & Pathak, V.K. Energy and exergy analyses of fabricated pyramid type solar distillation plant for optimization: An experimental work. Int J Energ Water Res 7, 65–83 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42108-021-00147-z

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