Abstract
Harvesting freshwater from saline and seawater using solar energy has proven a significant impact in recent times. The present study aims to investigate the performance of the solar desalination system by incorporating glass reflectors, heat storage media, and a thermoelectric cooling system with a single-basin-type distiller. Accordingly, the objective of the study is to improve the performance of the solar distiller in terms of freshwater production and efficiency compared to a conventional setup. Moreover, the designed unit was tested under the environment of the Western part of India (Mehsana—23.5880° N, 72.3693° E) for 19 days in the months of May and June 2022. The maximum daily productivity observed during the day was 2.5 l at an average solar radiation of 1200 W/m2, which was 1.23 times higher than its conventional counterpart. Similarly, the energy efficiency showed a maximum improvement of 23.73%. At the middle of the day, i.e., maximum performance condition, the exergy efficiency was doubled with current modifications. Solar radiation and ambient temperature were found to be the most critical parameters that influence performance. Modifications also increase the % off sunshine hour productivity compared to sunshine hour from ~ 10 to 11% to ~ 20.8 to 24%, respectively. The cost of water distillation for the proposed solar still was found as 0.037 $/l/m2,s and the payback period was estimated as 2.27 years. The overall results indicate the positive influence of the modifications; hence, this type of setup is feasible for implementation on the field in harsh and coastal line areas. However, modified single-basin solar still needs extended field study to realize the full potential of the modifications.
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Abbreviations
- \({{{A}}}_{{{b}}}\) :
-
Area of the basin (m2)
- \({{E}}{{{x}}}_{\mathbf{e}\mathbf{v}}\) :
-
Exergy of evaporation (W)
- \({{E}}{{{x}}}_{\mathbf{i}\mathbf{n}\mathbf{p}\mathbf{u}\mathbf{t}}\) :
-
Exergy input to the system (W)
- \({{E}}{{{x}}}_{\mathbf{P}\mathbf{r}\mathbf{o}\mathbf{d}\mathbf{u}\mathbf{c}\mathbf{t}}\) :
-
Exergy generated by system (W)
- \({{{h}}}_{\mathbf{f}\mathbf{g}}\) :
-
Latent heat of water (kJ/kg)
- \({{i}}\) :
-
Interest rate (5%)
- \({{I}}({{t}})\) :
-
Solar radiation (W/m2)
- \({{{I}}}_{\mathbf{t}\mathbf{o}\mathbf{t}\mathbf{a}\mathbf{l}}\) :
-
Total daily solar radiation (W/m2)
- \({{m}}\) :
-
Annual productivity (kg)
- \({{{m}}}_{\mathbf{p}}\) :
-
Daily productivity (kg/day/m2)
- \({{n}}\) :
-
Life of the solar stills (10 years)
- \({{p}}\) :
-
Capital cost of the solar still ($)
- PCM:
-
Phase changing material
- PPM:
-
Parts per million
- \({{S}}\) :
-
Salvage value of solar still (\({{S}}=0.2{{p}}\))
- \({{S}}{{S}}{{F}}\) :
-
Sinking fund factor
- \({{{T}}}_{{{a}}}\) :
-
Ambient temperature (K)
- \({{{T}}}_{{{s}}}\) :
-
Sun temperature (K)
- \({{{T}}}_{{{w}}}\) :
-
Water temperature (K)
- W:
-
Power (J/s)
- \({{{W}}}_{\mathbf{f}\mathbf{a}\mathbf{n}}\) :
-
Power consumed by fan (J/s)
- \({{{W}}}_{\mathbf{p}\mathbf{u}\mathbf{m}\mathbf{p}\mathbf{s}}\) :
-
Power consumed by pumps (J/s)
- \({{{W}}}_{\mathbf{T}\mathbf{E}\mathbf{C}}\) :
-
Power consumed by TECs (J/s)
- \({{{\eta}}}_{\mathbf{d}}\) :
-
Daily efficiency (%)
- \({{{\eta}}}_{\mathbf{E}\mathbf{x}}\) :
-
Exergy efficiency (%)
- \({{{\eta}}}_{\mathbf{T}\mathbf{E}\mathbf{C}}\) :
-
Number of TEC units
- \(\eta_{\mathbf f\mathbf a\mathbf n}\) :
-
Number of fans
- \({{{\eta}}}_{\mathbf{p}\mathbf{u}\mathbf{m}\mathbf{p}\mathbf{s}}\) :
-
Number of pumps
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Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, for their financial help vide Seed Money Scheme.
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Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, under the Seed Money Scheme.
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Vivek Patel—Conceptualization, writing draft, editing.
Lav Kumar Kaushik—Formal analysis, detailed reviewing.
Yogeshkumar D. Khimsuriya—Editing original draft.
Pranav Mehta—Conceptualization, reviewing.
Abd ElnabyKabeel—Reviewing, editing the basic draft.
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Highlight
• Solar distiller with glass reflectors, heat storage media, and a TEC.
• 1.23 times higher daily productivity than its conventional counterpart.
• Energy efficiency improved by a maximum of 23.73%.
• Cost of water distillation of 0.037 $/l/m2 and the payback period of 2.27 years.
• The overall results indicate the positive influence of the modifications.
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Patel, V., Kaushik, L.K., Khimsuriya, Y.D. et al. Performance investigation of a modified single-basin solar distiller by augmenting thermoelectric cooler as an external condenser. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 61829–61841 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26291-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26291-z