Abstract
An experimental investigation was executed on the solar evacuated tube collector containing a collective condenser unit of heat pipe arrangement attached to a single slope solar desalination system. The brackish water preheating was done by the unique solar collector before entering the still. Performance analysis of the system was carried out with 0.001, 0.002 and 0.003 kg/s brackish water flow rate in the collector and 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03 m of brine water depth in a single-slope solar desalination system. The feasibility of the proposed system was evaluated by thermodynamic analysis, embodied energy, CO2 mitigation and economic analysis. Active desalination system with collective condenser heat pipe evacuated tube collector at 0.001 kg/s brackish water flow rate and 0.01 m water depth produced maximum freshwater yield, average daily thermal and exergy efficiency of 3.085 l/m2day, 30.25% and 3.17% respectively. An increase of maximum freshwater yield of 37.11% and average daily thermal efficiency of 43.5% respectively were achieved at a brackish water flow rate of 0.001 kg/s and 0.01 m of basin water depth in comparison with a traditional single slope solar desalination system. The embodied energy of the system was estimated as 630.77 kWh, and 0.001 kg/s and 0.01 m of water depth resulted in the highest earned carbon credit of 16,954.48 INR. The minimum payback period of 2.19 years was achieved at the lower brackish water flow rate and basin water depth of 0.001 kg/s and 0.01 m respectively.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
Not applicable.
Abbreviations
- A :
-
Area (m2)
- AAC:
-
Aggregate annual cost (INR)
- ACC:
-
Annual capital cost (INR)
- ASV:
-
Annual salvage value (INR)
- C p :
-
Specific heat capacity (J/kg K)
- CC:
-
Capital cost (INR)
- CF:
-
Cash flow (INR)
- CSF:
-
Capital salvage factor
- D :
-
Diameter (m)
- d :
-
Thickness (m)
- E :
-
Energy (kWh)
- ECC:
-
Earned Carbon credit
- EPF:
-
Energy production factor
- EPT:
-
Energy payback time (years)
- ET:
-
Evacuated Tube
- EX:
-
Exergy
- F :
-
Radiation shape factor
- g :
-
Acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s2)
- G :
-
Glass
- h :
-
Convective heat transfer coefficient (W/m2K)
- HP:
-
Heat pipe
- I :
-
Solar radiation intensity (W/m2)
- IWT:
-
Inlet water temp. (°C)
- k :
-
Thermal conductivity (W/m2 K)
- LCCE:
-
Life cycle conversion efficiency
- L :
-
Latent heat (J/kg)
- l :
-
Length (m)
- m°:
-
Hourly productivity (l/h)
- M :
-
Total mass (kg)
- m :
-
Mass (kg)
- n :
-
Life of system (Years)
- N :
-
Total number
- Np:
-
Payback period
- OWT:
-
Outlet water temp.
- P :
-
Productivity (l)
- Q :
-
Rate of heat transfer (W)
- RC:
-
Running cost (INR)
- R :
-
Thermal resistance (K/W)
- SFF:
-
Sinking fund factor
- SP:
-
Selling price (INR)
- SV:
-
Salvage value
- T :
-
Temperature (°C)
- t :
-
Total
- U :
-
Uncertainty
- a :
-
Air
- ab :
-
Absorber
- amb :
-
Ambient
- b :
-
Basin
- C :
-
Collector
- c :
-
Condenser
- cond:
-
Conduction
- conv:
-
Convection
- e :
-
Evaporator
- en:
-
Entered
- evap:
-
Evaporation
- i :
-
Inner
- in:
-
Input
- lq:
-
Liquid
- O :
-
Outer glass covers
- out:
-
Output
- r :
-
Rate of interest
- rad:
-
Radiation
- ss :
-
Solar still
- s :
-
Sky
- v :
-
Vapour
- w :
-
Water
- ws :
-
Wind speed (m/s)
- y :
-
Yearly
- τ :
-
Transmittance
- α :
-
Absorptivity
- µ :
-
Dynamic viscosity (Pa s)
- ƞ :
-
Efficiency
- ρ :
-
Density (kg/m3)
- θ :
-
Angle
- σ :
-
Stefan Boltzmann constant (5.67 × 10–8 W/m2.K4)
- Є :
-
Emissivity
- π :
-
Pi (3.14)
References
Abi Mathew A, Thangavel V (2021) A novel thermal storage integrated evacuated tube heat pipe solar air heater: energy, exergy, economic and environmental impact analysis. Sol Energy 220:828–842. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2021.03.057
Abo-Elfadl S, Hassan H, El-Dosoky MF (2020) Energy and exergy assessment of integrating reflectors on thermal energy storage of evacuated tube solar collector-heat pipe system. Sol Energy 209:470–484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.09.009
Agrawal A, Rana RS (2018) Energy and exergy analysis of single slope single basin solar still in Indian condition: an experimental analysis. Mater Today Proc 5:19656–19666. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2018.06.328
Akashdeep N, Gurpinder Singh D, Satbir Singh S (2022) Experimental investigation on single basin tilted wick solar still integrated with flat plate collector. Mater Today Proc 48:1439–1446
Akpinar EK (2010) Drying of mint leaves in a solar dryer and under open sun: modelling, performance analyses. Energy Convers Manag 51:2407–2418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2010.05.005
Alwan NT, Shcheklein SE, Ali OM (2020) Experimental investigation of modified solar still integrated with solar collector. Case Stud Therm Eng 19:100614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2020.100614
Azad E (2008) Theoretical and experimental investigation of heat pipe solar collector. Exp Therm Fluid Sci 32:1666–1672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expthermflusci.2008.05.011
Cengel YA (2007) Heat transfer-a practical approach, 3rd edn. McGraw-Hill
Chauhan PS, Kumar A, Nuntadusit C (2018) Thermo-environomical and drying kinetics of bitter gourd flakes drying under north wall insulated greenhouse dryer. Sol Energy 162:205–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2018.01.023
Chopra K, Tyagi VV, Pathak AK et al (2019) Experimental performance evaluation of a novel designed phase change material integrated manifold heat pipe evacuated tube solar collector system. Energy Convers Manag 198:111896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2019.111896
Daghigh R, Shafieian A (2016) Theoretical and experimental analysis of thermal performance of a solar water heating system with evacuated tube heat pipe collector. Appl Therm Eng 103:1219–1227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.05.034
Elbar ARA, Hassan H (2020) Enhancement of hybrid solar desalination system composed of solar panel and solar still by using porous material and saline water preheating. Sol Energy 204:382–394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.04.058
Fallahzadeh R, Aref L, Gholamiarjenaki N et al (2020) Experimental investigation of the effect of using water and ethanol as working fluid on the performance of pyramid-shaped solar still integrated with heat pipe solar collector. Sol Energy 207:10–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.06.032
Gunerhan H, Hepbasli A (2007) Exergetic modeling and performance evaluation of solar water heating systems for building applications. Energy Build 39:509–516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2006.09.003
He W, Su Y, Wang YQ et al (2012) A study on incorporation of thermoelectric modules with evacuated-tube heat-pipe solar collectors. Renew Energy 37:142–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.06.002
Hlaing S, Soe MM (2014) Design calculation and heat transfer analysis of heat pipe evacuated tube solar collector for water heating. International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Technology Research 3(12):2606–26111. http://ijsetr.com/uploads/321456IJSETR1276-445.pdf
Kalogirou SA (2004) Solar thermal collectors and applications. Prog Energy Combust Sci 30:231–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2004.02.001
Khairat Dawood MM, Nabil T, Kabeel AE et al (2020) Experimental study of productivity progress for a solar still integrated with parabolic trough collectors with a phase change material in the receiver evacuated tubes and in the still. J Energy Storage 32:102007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2020.102007
Khairnasov SM, Naumova AM (2016) Heat pipes application to solar energy systems. Appl Sol Energy (english Transl Geliotekhnika) 52:47–60. https://doi.org/10.3103/S0003701X16010060
Khechekhouche A, Haoua BB, Kabeel AE, et al (2019) Improvement of solar distiller productivity by a black metallic plate of zinc as a thermal storage material. J Test Eval 49. https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE20190119
Kumar S (2013) Thermal-economic analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PVT) active solar distillation system: role of carbon credit. Urban Clim 5:112–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2013.07.001
Kumar S, Tiwari GN (2011) Analytical expression for instantaneous exergy efficiency of a shallow basin passive solar still. Int J Therm Sci 50:2543–2549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2011.06.015
Kumar S, Dubey A, Tiwari GN (2014) A solar still augmented with an evacuated tube collector in forced mode. Desalination 347:15–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2014.05.019
Kumar A, Vyas S, Nchelatebe Nkwetta D (2020) Experimental study of single slope solar still coupled with parabolic trough collector. Mater Sci Energy Technol 3:700–708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mset.2020.07.005
Mahdjuri F (1979) Evacuated heat pipe solar collector. Energy Convers 19:85–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-7480(79)90004-4
Manish S, Ashok Kumar S, Singh P (2020) Impact of materials and economic analysis of single slope single basin passive solar still: a review. Mater Today Proc 21:1643–1652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2019.11.289
Mevada D, Panchal H, Sadasivuni KK (2021) Investigation on evacuated tubes coupled solar still with condenser and fins: experimental, exergo-economic and exergo-environment analysis. Case Stud Therm Eng 27:101217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2021.101217
Mosleh HJ, Mamouri SJ, Shafii MB, Sima AH (2015) A new desalination system using a combination of heat pipe, evacuated tube and parabolic trough collector. Energy Convers Manag 99:141–150
Nkwetta DN, Smyth M, Haghighat F et al (2013) Experimental performance evaluation and comparative analyses of heat pipe and direct flow augmented solar collectors. Appl Therm Eng 60:225–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2013.06.059
Omara ZM, Abdullah AS, Kabeel AE, Essa FA (2017) The cooling techniques of the solar stills’ glass covers – a review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 78:176–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.04.085
Panchal H, Mevada D, Sadasivuni KK et al (2020) Experimental and water quality analysis of solar stills with vertical and inclined fins. Groundw Sustain Dev 11:100410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2020.100410
Petela R (2003) Exergy of undiluted thermal radiation. Sol Energy 74:469–488. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-092X(03)00226-3
Rahbar N, Esfahani JA (2013) Productivity estimation of a single-slope solar still: theoretical and numerical analysis. Energy 49:289–297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2012.10.023
Rajaseenivasan T, Srithar K (2016) Performance investigation on solar still with circular and square fins in basin with CO2 mitigation and economic analysis. Desalination 380:66–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2015.11.025
Ranjan KR, Kaushik SC, Panwar NL (2016) Energy and exergy analysis of passive solar distillation systems. Int J Low-Carbon Technol 11:211–221. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijlct/ctt069
Rashid FL, Shareef AS, HFA (2019) Enhancement of fresh water production in solar still using new phase change materials. J Adv Res Fluid Mech Therm Sci 61:63–72
Reay D, McGlen R, Kew P, Dunn PD (2016) Heat pipes. Elsevier Science, Germany
Shahmohamadi M, Shafii MB, Sadrhosseini H (2015) Solar water distillation by using water in the inner glass evacuated tubes. Paper presented in conference named as- 3rd Southern African Solar Energy Conference, South Africa, pp 11–13. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/49481
Sampathkumar K, Arjunan TV, Pitchandi P, Senthilkumar P (2010) Active solar distillation-a detailed review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 14:1503–1526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.01.023
Selimefendigil F, Şirin C, Öztop HF (2022) Experimental analysis of combined utilization of CuO nanoparticles in latent heat storage unit and absorber coating in a single-slope solar desalination system. Sol Energy 233:278–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2022.01.039
Shafieian A, Khiadani M, Nosrati A (2019) Thermal performance of an evacuated tube heat pipe solar water heating system in cold season. Appl Therm Eng 149:644–657. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2018.12.078
Sharon H, Reddy KS (2015) Performance investigation and enviro-economic analysis of active vertical solar distillation units. Energy 84:794–807. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015.03.045
Shoeibi S, Rahbar N, Esfahlani AA, Kargarsharifabad H (2021) Energy matrices, exergoeconomic and enviroeconomic analysis of air-cooled and water-cooled solar still: experimental investigation and numerical simulation. Renew Energy 171:227–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2021.02.081
Shahin S, Hadi K, Nader R, Gholamreza K, Mohsen S (2022) An integrated solar desalination with evacuated tube heat pipe solar collector and new wind ventilator external condenser. Sustain Energy Technol Assessments. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2021.101857
Shrivastava V, Kumar A (2017) Embodied energy analysis of the indirect solar drying unit. Int J Ambient Energy 38:280–285. https://doi.org/10.1080/01430750.2015.1092471
Singh AK, Samsher (2020) Material conscious energy matrix and enviro-economic analysis of passive ETC solar still. Mater Today Proc 38:1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.05.117
Singh AK, Singh DB, Mallick A, Kumar N (2018) Energy matrices and efficiency analyses of solar distiller units: a review. Sol Energy 173:53–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2018.07.020
Subramanian RS, Kumaresan G, Ajith R et al (2021) Performance analysis of modified solar still integrated with flat plate collector. Mater Today Proc 45:1382–1387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.06.409
Tiwari S, Tiwari GN (2016) Thermal analysis of photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) single slope roof integrated greenhouse solar dryer. Sol Energy 138:128–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.09.014
Wang Z, Duan Z, Zhao X, Chen M (2012) Dynamic performance of a façade-based solar loop heat pipe water heating system. Sol Energy 86:1632–1647. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2012.02.031
Yadav Y (1991) Analytical performance of a solar still integrated with a flat plate solar collector: thermosiphon mode. Energy Convers Manag 31:255–263
Zheng Y, Hatzell KB (2020) Technoeconomic analysis of solar thermal desalination. Desalination 474:114168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2019.114168
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Both authors contributed to the concept, design and development of the present work. In addition, this work was carried out as a part of the Ph.D. dissertation of Garima Nema who was supervised by Karunamurthy Krishnasamy. Garima Nema performed the experimental and numerical analyses, collected and interpreted the data and drafted the majority of the manuscript. Krishnasamy Karunamurthy supervised and revised all the data interpretations, analyses and a manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical approval
This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by the author.
Consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
This manuscript is an original work produced by the authors. Both (Garima Nema and Karunamurthy Krishnasamy) authors are aware of its content and approve its submission. It is also important to mention that the manuscript has not been published elsewhere in part or entirety and is not under consideration by another journal. We further certify that proper citations to the previously reported work have been given, and no data/table/figures have been quoted verbatim from other publications. The author has given consent for this article to be submitted for publication in Environmental Science and Pollution Research.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Nema, G., Krishnasamy, K. An active solar desalination system integrated with collective condenser heat pipe solar evacuated tube collector: a thermoeconomic analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 10273–10295 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-25058-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-25058-2