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Evaluating thermal performance of a single slope solar still

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Abstract

The distillation is one of the important methods of getting clean water from brackish and sea water using the free energy supply from the sun. An experimental work is conducted on a single slope solar still. The thermal performance of the single slope solar still is examined and evaluated through implementing the following effective parameters: (a) different insulation thicknesses of 1, 2.5 and 5 cm; (b) water depth of 2 and 3.5 cm; (c) solar intensity; (d) Overall heat loss coefficient (e) effective absorbtivity and transmissivity; and (f) ambient, water and vapor temperatures. Different effective parameters should be taken into account to increase the still productivity. A mathematical model is presented and compared with experimental results. The model gives a good match with experimental values.

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Abbreviations

A s :

basin liner still area, (m2)

A ss :

side still area (m2)

a :

equation constant, Eqs. 27, 30

h cb :

basin liner convection heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K)

h b :

basin liner overall heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K)

h cg :

glass cover convection heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K)

h cw :

heat loss coefficient by convection from water surface (W/m2 K)

h ew :

heat loss coefficient by evaporation from water surface (W/m2 K)

h rb :

basin liner radiative heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K)

h rg :

glass cover radiative heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K)

h rw :

basin water radiative heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K)

h tg :

total glass heat transfer loss coefficient (W/m2 K)

h w :

convective heat transfer coefficient from basin to water (W/m2 K)

h tw :

total water surface heat transfer loss coefficient (W/m2 K)

I :

solar intensity (W/m2)

k ins :

insulation thermal conductivity (W/m K)

L ins :

insulation thickness (m)

M :

total mass productivity/day (kg/day)

(MC)w :

water heat capacity rate of water per unit area (J/m2K)

P g :

glass saturated partial pressure (N/m2)

P w :

water saturated partial pressure (N/m2)

q g :

rate of total energy from the glass cover (W/m2)

q b :

rate of total energy from basin liner (W/m2)

q bg :

rate of energy lost from basin liner to the ground (W/m2)

q cg :

rate of energy lost from the glass cover by convective (W/m2)

q ew :

rate of energy lost from water surface by evaporation (W/m2)

q cw :

rate of energy lost from water surface by convection (W/m2)

q rg :

rate of energy lost from the glass cover by radiation (W/m2)

q rw :

rate of energy lost from water surface by radiation (W/m2)

q s :

rate of energy lost from the basin liner through the side of the still (W/m2)

Tw 0 :

temperature of basin water (K)

Tg in :

temperature of inside glass (K)

Tg out :

temperature of outside glass (K)

T a :

ambient temperature (K)

T b :

basin liner temperature (K)

T g :

still glass cover (K)

T sky :

sky temperature (K)

T v :

still vapor temperature (K)

T w :

still water temperature (K)

t :

time (s)

U b :

overall bottom heat lost coefficient (W/m2 K)

U t :

overall top heat loss coefficient (W/m2 K)

U e :

overall side heat loss coefficient (W/m2 K)

U l :

overall heat loss coefficient (W/m2 K)

R t :

thermal resistance (m2 K/W)

V :

wind speed (m/s)

h fg :

latent heat of vaporization (kJ/kg K)

αb :

absorbtivity fraction of energy absorbed by the basin liner

αg :

absorbtivity fraction of energy absorbed by the glass cover

αw :

absorbtivity fraction of energy absorbed by the water surface

τ:

transmissivity

ɛg :

glass emissivity

ɛw :

water emissivity

ɛeff :

effective emissivity

ηi :

instantaneous efficiency

ηvol :

volumetric effeciency

β:

collector tilt angle (deg)

σ:

Stephan–Boltzman coefficient (W/m2k4)

Δ:

difference

0:

initial value

out:

outlet

in:

inlet

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, FET, AL-Balqa Applied University, 15008, Marka, 11134, Amman, Jordan

    Omar O. Badran

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, FET, AL-Balqa Applied University, 15008, Marka, 11134, Amman, Jordan

    Mazen M. Abu-Khader

Authors
  1. Omar O. Badran
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  2. Mazen M. Abu-Khader
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Correspondence to Mazen M. Abu-Khader.

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Badran, O.O., Abu-Khader, M.M. Evaluating thermal performance of a single slope solar still. Heat Mass Transfer 43, 985–995 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-006-0180-0

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