Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Phosphate bags as energy storage materials for enhancement of solar still performance

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this experimental work, the effect of cotton bags filled with phosphate on solar distillery performance has been investigated. In this study, 25 phosphate bags are evenly distributed (5 × 5) with a length equal to 50 cm in a wooden box called the modified solar still (MSS). This system was compared with the conventional solar still (CSS) in the same climatic conditions. Phosphate bags are placed vertically to increase the energy storage capacity, and the water’s surface area since the capillaries inside the phosphate bags play an important role in increasing the energy storage capacity. Experiments were conducted at El Oued University in Algeria during April and May 2020, with 1 cm and 2 cm of saltwater depth. The cumulative yield of 5.27 and 4.87 kg was produced from the MSS at 1 cm and 2 cm of saltwater, respectively, while the cumulative yield of the CSS was 3.8 kg. The MSS’s overall efficiency at 1 cm and 2 cm of saltwater was enhanced by 28 and 22.5%, respectively compared with the CSS. The presence of calcium and copper in phosphate stores the heat energy during morning and afternoon, and stored heat energy was released during evening. Finally, it can be concluded that increasing phosphate bags significantly enhances the productivity in solar distillation, increasing efficiency and productivity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data are given in the manuscript.

Abbreviations

CSS:

Conventional solar still

MSS-1:

Modified solar still with 1 cm basin water

MSS-2:

Modified solar still with 2 cm basin water

SHESM:

Sensible heat energy storage materials

ISS:

Inclined solar still

I(t):

Solar irradiation

Ta:

Atmosphere temperature

T s.w :

Saline water temperature

T c.c :

Collector cover temperature

References

  • Abdullaha AS, Essa FA, Bacha HB, Omara ZM (2020) Improving the trays solar still performance using reflectors and phase change material with nanoparticles. J Energy Storage 31:101744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdullah AS, Younes MM, Omara ZM, Essa FA (2020) New design of trays solar still with enhanced evaporation methods—comprehensive study. Sol Energy 203C:164–174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdullah AS, Essa FA, Omara ZM, Rashid Y, Hadj-Taieb L, Abdelaziz GB, Kabeel AE (2019) Rotating-drum solar still with enhanced evaporation and condensation techniques: comprehensive study. Energy Convers Manag 199:112024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Attia MEH, Driss Z, Manokar AM, Sathyamurthy R (2020) Effect of aluminum balls on the productivity of solar distillate. J Energy Storage 30:101466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Attia MEH, Karthick A, Manokar AM, Driss Z, Sathyamurthy R, Sharifpur M (2020a) Sustainable potable water production from conventional solar still during the winter season at Algerian dry areas: energy and exergy analysis. J Therm Anal Calorim:1–11

  • Ayuthaya RPN, Namprakai P, Ampun W (2013) The thermal performance of an ethanol solar still with fin plate to increase productivity. Renew Energy 54:227–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balachandran GB, David PW, Mariappan RK, Kabeel AE, Athikesavan MM, Sathyamurthy R (2019) Improvising the efficiency of single-sloped solar still using thermally conductive nano-ferric oxide. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:32191–32204 1-14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chamkha AJ, Rufuss DDW, Kabeel AE, Sathyamurthy R, Abdelgaid M, Manokar AM, Madhu B (2020) Augmenting the potable water produced from single slope solar still using CNT-doped paraffin wax as energy storage: an experimental approach. J Braz Soc Mech Sci Eng 42(12):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dumka P, Sharma A, Kushwah Y, Raghav AS, Mishra DR (2019) Performance evaluation of single slope solar still augmented with sand-filled cotton bags. J Energy Storage 25:100888

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elango T, Kannan A, Murugavel KK (2015) Performance study on single basin single slope solar still with different water nanofluids. Desalination 360:45–51

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sebaii AA, Aboul-Enein S, Ramadan MRI, El-Bialy E (2000) Year-round performance of a modified single-basin solar still with mica plate as a suspended absorber. Energy 25(1):35–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Sebaii AA, Ramadan MRI, Aboul-Enein S, El-Naggar M (2015) Effect of fin configuration parameters on single basin solar still performance. Desalination 365:15–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Essa FA, Elsheikh AH, Algazzar AA, Sathyamurthy R, Ali MKA, Elaziz MA, Salman Kh (2020a) Eco-friendly coffee-based colloid for performance augmentation of solar stills. Process Saf Environ Prot 136:259–267

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Essa FA, Omara ZM, Abdullah AS, Shanmugan S, Panchal H, Kabeel AE, Sathyamurthy R, Alawee WH, Manokar AM, Elsheikh AH (2020b) Wall-suspended trays inside stepped distiller with Al2O3/paraffin wax mixture and vapor suction: Experimental implementation. J Energy Storage 32:102008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jasinski SM (2012). Phosphate rock: US Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2012.

  • Kabeel AE, Abdelgaied M, Eisa A (2018) Enhancing the performance of single basin solar still using high thermal conductivity sensible storage materials. J Clean Prod 183:20–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kabeel AE, El-Agouz ES, Athikesavan MM, Ramalingam RD, Sathyamurthy R, Prakash N, Prasad C (2020) Comparative analysis on freshwater yield from conventional basin-type single slope solar still with cement-coated red bricks: an experimental approach. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:32218–32228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kabeel AE, Sathyamurthy R, Manokar AM, Sharshir SW, Essa FA, Elshiekh AH (2020a) Experimental study on tubular solar still using graphene oxide nano particles in phase change material (NPCM’s) for freshwater production. Journal of Energy Storage 28:101204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kabeel AE, Teamah MA, Abdelgaied M, Aziz GBA (2017) Modified pyramid solar still with v-corrugated absorber plate and PCM as a thermal storage medium. J Clean Prod 161:881–887

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khechekhouche A, Benhaoua B, Attia MEH, Driss Z, Manokar A, Ghodbane M (2020) Polluted groundwater treatment in southeastern Algeria by solar distillation. Algerian J Environ Sci Technol 6(1)

  • Khechekhouche A, Benhaoua B, Manokar M, Sathyamurthy R, Kabeel AE, Driss Z (2019) Sand dunes effect on the productivity of a single slope solar distiller. Heat Mass Transf 56:1117–1126 1-10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar SA, Kumar PSM, Sathyamurthy R, Manokar AM (2020) A study of life cycle conversion efficiency and CO2 role in the pyramid shape solar stills—comparative analysis. Groundw Sustain Dev 11:100413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madhu B, Balasubramanian BE, Kabeel AE, El-Agouz SA, Manokar AM, Prakash N, Sathyamurthy R (2018a) Experimental investigation on the effect of sensible heat energy storage in an inclined solar still with baffles. Desalin Water Treat 116:49–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Madhu B, Balasubramanian E, Sathyamurthy R, Nagarajan PK, Mageshbabu D, Bharathwaaj R, Manokar AM (2018b) Exergy analysis of solar still with sand heat energy storage. Applied Solar Energy 54(3):173–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manokar AM, Murugavel KK, Esakkimuthu G (2014) Different parameters affecting the rate of evaporation and condensation on passive solar still—a review. Renew Sust Energ Rev 38:309–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manokar AM, Winston DP, Kabeel AE, Sathyamurthy R (2018) Sustainable fresh water and power production by integrating PV panel in inclined solar still. J Clean Prod 172:2711–2719

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manokar AM, Winston DP, Mondol JD, Sathyamurthy R, Kabeel AE, Panchal H (2018a) Comparative study of an inclined solar panel basin solar still in passive and active mode. Sol Energy 169:206–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mona MN, Mervat AAEK, El Kawi A (2002) Non-conventional solar stills. Part 2: non-conventional solar stills with energy storage element. Desalination 153:71–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Nafey AS, Abdelkader M, Abdelmotalip A, Mabrouk AA (2001) Solar still productivity enhancement. Energy Convers Manag 42(11):1401–1408

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Naim MM, El Kawi MAA (2003) Non-conventional solar stills Part 1. Non-conventional solar stills with charcoal particles as absorber medium. Desalination 153(1-3):55–64

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Okeke CE, Egarievwe SU, Animalu AOE (1990) Effects of coal and charcoal on solar-still performance. Energy 15(11):1071–1073

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Omara ZM, Hamed MH, Kabeel AE (2011) Performance of finned and corrugated absorbers solar stills under Egyptian conditions. Desalination 277(1-3):281–287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Panchal H, Mevada D, Sadasivuni KK, Essa FA, Shanmugan S, Khalid M (2020) Experimental and water quality analysis of solar stills with vertical and inclined fins. Groundw Sustain Dev 11:100410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rabhi K, Nciri R, Nasri F, Ali C, Bacha HB (2017) Experimental performance analysis of a modified single-basin single-slope solar still with pin fins absorber and condenser. Desalination 416:86–93

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sakthivel M, Shanmugasundaram S (2008) Effect of energy storage medium (black granite gravel) on the performance of a solar still. Int J Energy Res 32(1):68–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shanmugan S, Essa FA, Gorjianc S, Kabeel AE, Sathyamurthy R, Muthu Manokar A (2020) Experimental study on single slope single basin solar still using TiO2 nano layer for natural clean water invention. J Energy Storage 30:101522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shalaby SM, El-Bialy E, El-Sebaii AA (2016) An experimental investigation of a v-corrugated absorber single-basin solar still using PCM. Desalination 398:247–255

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Syers JK, Mackay AD, Brown MW, Currie LD (1986) Chemical and physical characteristics of phosphate rock materials of varying reactivity. J Sci Food Agric 37(11):1057–1064

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thalib MM, Manokar AM, Essa FA, Vasimalai N, Sathyamurthy R, Marquez FPG (2020) Comparative study of tubular solar stills with phase change material and nano-enhanced phase change material. Energies 13:3989

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taamneh Y, Manokar AM, Thalib MM, Kabeel AE, Sathyamurthy R, Chamkha AJ (2020) Extraction of drinking water from modified inclined solar still incorporated with spiral tube solar water heater. J Water Process Eng 38:101613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari GN, Lawrence SA (1991) New heat and mass transfer relations for a solar still. Energy Convers Manag 31(2):201–203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari GN, Dimri V, Chel A (2009) Parametric study of an active and passive solar distillation system: energy and exergy analysis. Desalination 242(1-3):1–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vaithilingam S, Gopal ST, Srinivasan SK, Manokar AM, Sathyamurthy R, Esakkimuthu GS, Kumar R, Sharifpur M (2020) An extensive review on thermodynamic aspect based solar desalination techniques. J Therm Anal Calorim 9:1–7

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Exact Sciences, University of El Oued, 3900, El Oued, Algeria

    Mohammed El Hadi Attia

  2. Laboratory of Electromechanical Systems, National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, BP 1173, 3038, Sfax, Tunisia

    Zied Driss

  3. Mechanical Power Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

    Abd Elnaby Kabeel

  4. Faculty of Engineering, Delta University for Science and Technology, Gamasa, Egypt

    Abd Elnaby Kabeel

  5. Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Arasur, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

    Karthick Alagar

  6. Mechanical Department, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Vandalur, Chennai, 600048, Tamil Nadu, India

    Muthu Manokar Athikesavan

  7. Department of Mechanical Engineering, KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Arasur, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641407, India

    Ravishankar Sathyamurthy

Authors
  1. Mohammed El Hadi Attia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zied Driss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Abd Elnaby Kabeel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Karthick Alagar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Muthu Manokar Athikesavan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ravishankar Sathyamurthy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Mohammed El Hadi Attia: investigation, project administration, and writing-introduction part. Zied Driss: project administration and writing-review & editing. Abd Elnaby Kabeel: formal analysis and project administration. Karthick Alagar: data curation and software. Muthu Manokar A: writing-results and discussion part, data curation, writing-review & editing. Ravishankar Sathyamurthy: writing-results and discussion part, data curation, software, and writing-review & editing.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Mohammed El Hadi Attia or Muthu Manokar Athikesavan.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare that that have no competing interests.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable

Consent for publication

Not applicable

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Highlights

• Three solar stills (conventional solar still and modified solar stills with phosphate bags) were fabricated.

• Research was performed at Renewable Energy Laboratory in El Oued University, Algeria.

• Sustainable distilled water production from the modified solar still is higher than the conventional solar still.

• The yield and thermal efficiency of the conventional solar still was 3.8 kg and 31%, repectively.

• The yield and thermal efficiency of the modified solar still was 5.27 and 43%, repectively.

• The thermal efficiency of the modified solar still was improved by 28% higher as compared with the conventional solar still.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

The EHTC from saline water to glass cover is calculated by Tiwari and Lawrence (1991) and (Tiwari et al. 2009),

$$ {h}_{e,w-g}=16.273\times {10}^{-3}\times {h}_{c,w-g}\left[\frac{P_w-{P}_{gi}}{T_{b.w}-{T}_{gi}}\right] $$

Convective heat transfer coefficient from the saline water to the glass cover is calculated by Tiwari and Lawrence (1991) and Tiwari et al. (2009),

$$ {h}_{c,w-g}=0.884\left[\left({T}_{b.w}-{T}_{gi}\right)+\frac{\left({P}_w-{P}_{gi}\right)\left({T}_{b.w}+273\right)}{\left(268.9X{10}^{-3}-{P}_w\right)}\right] $$

Partial vapor pressure at the Tb.w is calculated by Tiwari and Lawrence (1991) and Tiwari et al. (2009),

$$ {P}_w=\mathit{\exp}\left(25.317-\left(\frac{5144}{273+{T}_{b.w}}\right)\right) $$

Partial vapor pressure at the glass surface is calculated by Tiwari and Lawrence (1991) and Tiwari et al. (2009),

$$ {P}_{gi}=\mathit{\exp}\left(25.317-\left(\frac{5144}{273+{T}_{gi}}\right)\right) $$

The thermal efficiency of the CSS and MSS is estimated as Tiwari and Lawrence (1991) and Tiwari et al. (2009),

$$ {\eta}_{passive}=\frac{\sum {\dot{m}}_{ew}L}{\sum I(t){A}_s\times 3600}\times 100 $$

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Attia, M.E.H., Driss, Z., Kabeel, A.E. et al. Phosphate bags as energy storage materials for enhancement of solar still performance. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 21540–21552 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-12018-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-12018-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation