Improving the performance of solar still by using nanofluids and providing vacuum

• Published in: Energy conversion and management Vol. 86; pp. 268 - 274
• Main Authors: Kabeel, A.E., Omara, Z.M., Essa, F.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: ALUMINUM OXIDE; Applied sciences; Basins; CUPROUS OXIDE; Distillation; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; FLUID FLOW; MICROSTRUCTURES; Nanofluids; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; OXIDES; PARTICLES; Productivity; Solar still; Vacuum; Distillation; Solar still; Vacuum; Cuprous oxide; Nanofluids; Aluminum oxide; Nanofluid; Performance
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2014.05.050

•Modified solar still integrated with an external condenser and used nanofluids were studied.•The results obtained that using cuprous oxide increased the distilled productivity by 133.64%.•Using the aluminum oxide–water nanofluid increased the distillate productivity of the modified still by 125.0%.
The experimental modifications were carried out into the conventional solar still, considerably increasing the distillate water productivity. The effects of using different types of nanomaterials on the performance of solar still were studied. The investigated solid nanoparticles are the cuprous and aluminum oxides. The performance was investigated at different weight fraction concentrations of nanoparticles in the basin water with and without providing vacuum. These additions and modifications greatly improve the evaporation and condensation rates and hence the distillate yield was augmented. The research was conducted for range of concentrations starting from 0.02% to 0.2% with a step of 0.02%. The maxima productivity was obtained for using the cuprous oxide nanoparticles with a concentration of 0.2% with operating the vacuum fan. The results obtained that using cuprous oxide nanoparticles increased the distilled productivity by 133.64% and 93.87% with and without the fan respectively. On the other hand, using aluminum oxide nanoparticles enhanced the distillate by 125.0% and 88.97% with and without the fan respectively as compared to the conventional still. The estimated cost of 1.0l of distillate are approximately 0.035$, 0.045$ when using the cuprous oxide nanomaterial with and without the fan and, as well as the aluminum oxide nanoparticles, 0.038$ and 0.051$ respectively, and for the conventional still is 0.048$.